What can happen when you commit yourself to learning a new skill?
For Faith Emmanuel, a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), it meant standing on a global stage and finishing among the world’s best Chinese language learners.
Faith, whose Chinese name is Lu Xingyao, recently won the Global Third Prize at the 25th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students held in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
Her achievement is even more remarkable because she only started learning Chinese in March 2025.
According to UNIZIK, many of the contestants she competed against had been studying Chinese for five or six years, while some had spent up to 15 years learning the language. Others had also studied or lived in China for long periods.
Yet, despite having less than one-and-a-half years of experience, Faith advanced through multiple stages of the competition, secured a place among the Global Top 30, and eventually won the Global Third Prize.
She competed against 157 contestants from 138 countries.
In a congratulatory message shared on Facebook, the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria described her as an “outstanding Nigerian youth.”
The embassy stated, “Faith Mba Emmanuel (Chinese name: Lu Xingyao), a student of the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), who stood out among 157 contestants from 138 countries to win the Global Third Prize.”
Faith is a participant of the Confucius Institute at UNIZIK and has now become the 12th contestant from the institute to reach the “Chinese Bridge” Global Top 30 since 2018.
According to the university, her success was driven by her passion for learning, consistent hard work, and confidence on stage.
Qin Fangfang of the Confucius Institute said Faith’s journey sends a powerful message to young Nigerians.
“Faith Mba Emmanuel’s journey is not only a story of courage, perseverance and diligence, but also a vivid reflection of the determination of Nigerian youth to pursue their dreams and embrace challenges,” Qin said.
The “Chinese Bridge” competition brings together students from different countries to test their Chinese-language proficiency and demonstrate their understanding of Chinese culture.
For students who think they are starting late or do not have enough time to master a new skill, Faith’s story offers a different perspective.
In less than 18 months, she moved from learning Chinese as a beginner to becoming one of the top performers in a global competition.
The achievement also continues a strong record for the UNIZIK Confucius Institute, whose contestants have won three African championships, four Global First Prizes, and four Global Third Prizes since 2018.
As Nigerian students continue to explore opportunities beyond traditional classrooms, Faith Emmanuel’s success shows that dedication, consistency, and a willingness to learn can open doors far beyond what many imag
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.