From Lagos to Nairobi, Mandarin is making its way into African classrooms. Nigeria’s recent curriculum update puts Chinese alongside French and Arabic. As China deepens its footprint across the continent, is learning Mandarin a smart move or a sign of growing soft power?

Nairobi

Mandarin is becoming a common feature in African education systems, with China establishing language schools and Confucius Institutes in nearly every African country. In Nigeria, Mandarin has been added to the school curriculum alongside other foreign languages, aiming to prepare students for a globalized world and strengthen ties with China, Africa's largest trading partner.

The expansion of Mandarin teaching is seen as both a tool for opportunity and a sign of China's growing soft power in Africa. While language skills can open doors for students in trade and cultural exchange, concerns persist about whether local populations are fully benefiting, as Chinese companies often prefer to hire their own nationals. The effectiveness of these initiatives depends on local governments' ability to negotiate favorable terms for their citizens.

Why is Mandarin entering classrooms in Africa?

China has established language schools in almost every African country. But why is Chinese becoming part of Africa's curriculum? I am African. Cats. Cat. Cat. From Lagos to Nairobi, Mandarin is no longer just a foreign language. It's entering the classroom. Is it a smart move or a sign of growing influence? If you understand their language, you have an advantage. Welcome to The Flipside. In Nigeria, Mandarin has officially joined the school curriculum. Alongside French and Arabic, students can now choose Chinese as a foreign language. It's part of a broader push to prepare youth for a globalized future. It's good for us to learn their language too. Like in secondary schools, we go to primary, but you cannot establish it in primary. So in secondary school it's okay. So that's just like the way we learn French. Learning Chinese language is one of the things that will help our partnership with Chinese. They are our biggest trade partner in Nigeria. So most of the things we are using in Nigeria are usually produced by Chinese people. So I think it's an opportunity for us to learn their language also. Since the early 2000s, China has steadily expanded its cultural footprint. Confucius Institutes, China's cultural and language centers, have been established in 49 countries across Africa. They offer language classes, scholarships and cultural exchange programs. For many students, it's a gateway to studying in China. The Chinese themselves learn a lot of African languages. Swahili, they teach Swahili in their universities. They teach Hausa, they teach Zulu and so forth. The Chinese learn a whole lot of languages because they've got a mission, right? Because they've got a template and what they want to achieve. And they know their local languages first. So my point is, learn that first. Having learned that, you can then expand and then learn other things, which I think is important. But it's not just about language. As China builds railways, hospitals and signed trade deals across Africa, Mandarin becomes a tool of diplomacy. Is this soft power in action? Or are African nations simply adapting to a shifting global order? Learning Mandarin can open doors. Translators and cultural liaisons are in demand. But critics say Chinese companies often prefer hiring their own nationals. This raises the question, how much opportunity is actually available to locals? The Chinese approach every country on its own basis. So if the government, let's say in Kenya, which is my home country, is letting them come with their own people to hire for, say, the SGR, the Standard Gold Railway, then it's up to the Kenyans to negotiate. If they don't negotiate properly, then they will have a lot of Chinese nationals coming for that project. But if in the contract they say we are going to hire 80% Kenyan people, then I think the Chinese would like to respect that. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. So I just said the numbers 1 to 10 in Chinese. For many students, Mandarin is more than a language. It's a bridge, a bridge to trade, travel and global opportunity. And for many, it's a bridge they're eager to explore. And that's the flip side.

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the Gaza Strip overnight and on Sunday, destroying several residential buildings, witnesses said, as Palestinians hoped a U.S. plan to end the war would soon ease their suffering.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strikes on Gaza continue ahead peace talks

Amenhotep III ruled between 1390 and 1350 BC and was one of the most prominent pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Cairo

Pharaoh's tomb reopened after more than 20 years of renovations

President Trump has thrust the U.S. military into a critical role deterring illegal crossings into this country at the southern border. As Charlie D'Agata reports, their presence is having unintended consequences.

Santa Teresa

U.S. military presence at southern border angers hunters, hikers

A new CBS News poll shows a majority of Americans disapprove of how President Trump and congressional Republicans and Democrats have handled the government shutdown. Willie James Inman reports on that and Mr. Trump's latest National Guard moves.

Washington

Americans fed up with shutdown, poll finds

Negotiators between Hamas and Israel will begin meetings in Cairo on Monday (October 6) for the release of the remaining 20 hostages and a prisoner swap.  There is a lot of pressure on both sides to get a deal done.

Negotiations between Israel, Hamas set to begin

Japan's ruling party picked hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi as its head on Saturday, putting her on course to become the country's first female prime minister in a move set to jolt investors.

Tokyo

Right-wing Sanae Takaichi set to be Japan's first female premier

For a second day, Israel is launching more strikes on the Strip defying demands from the U.S. to stop attacks. At least 61 Palestinians were killed in attacks across the Strip.

Israel intensifies Gaza bombardment despite U.S. pressure to stop

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he hopes to announce the release of all the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza in one fell swoop in the coming days.

Netanyahu: Gaza peace deal is 'close'

The government shutdown reached its fourth day on Saturday. The Senate on Friday went home after another failed vote to keep the government open. Willie James Inman has the latest.

No signs of compromise as government shutdown continues

Tensions are high in Portland, Oregon, as National Guardsmen could possibly be deployed there as early as this weekend. Federal agents and demonstrators squared off again, but Portland's mayor and chief of police say they don't need the help.

Portland

Protests in Portland as National Guard mobilizes

“I believe they are ready for a lasting peace.” the U.S president wrote on social media after Hamas announced it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians.

Trump urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza after peace breakthrough

Israel slowed its Gaza offensive on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump demanded it stop bombing in response to Hamas saying it was ready to free hostages under the U.S. plan to end the two-year-old war.

Could the Trump deal end the Gaza war?

Sanae Takaichi has been elected as the head of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is therefore likely to become the next prime minister and the first woman to lead the country.

Japan's ruling LDP elects first female prime minister

U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged Hamas's partial acceptance of a ceasefire proposal drafted with Israel, and ordered Israel to stop bombing the Gaza strip.

Trump orders Israel to stop bombing Gaza

The state Attorney-General says the city is violating the law by sharing license data with federal agencies. The El Cajon mayor has accused the state of 'bullying' cities.

El Cajon

State sues El Cajon over license plate data

Sean "Diddy" Combs was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison on two prostitution-related charges. It follows a roughly two-month-long trial where Combs was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

Manhattan

Sean "Diddy" Combs sentenced to over four years in prison

The United States Senate on Friday (October 3) failed to advance competing plans to extend federal funding and end the government shutdown, likely pushing the funding lapse into at least next week.

U.S. Senate fails to pass funding bill to end government shutdown

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on social media another strike targeting a vessel allegedly connected to narco-trafficking off the coast of Venezuela. CBS News' Reed Cowan reports.

Hegseth announces another strike against vessel off Venezuela coast

Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1,400-year history of the role, but her appointment immediately drew criticism from conservative Anglicans mainly based in Africa who oppose women bishops.

Canterbury

Church of England names first female archbishop

Israeli forces have intercepted the last vessel of an aid flotilla headed for Gaza. The convoy was in international waters, prompting accusations that Israel violated maritime law. Protests have been staged in cities around the world.

Israel's interception of Gaza aid flotilla prompts protests

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he is issuing a Sunday evening deadline for Hamas to agree to a U.S. peace proposal, backed by the Israeli government, to end the war in Gaza.

Trump issues deadline for Hamas to reach ceasefire deal

Prince William opened up on comedian Eugene Levy's Apple travel show, "The Reluctant Traveler," about his wife Kate, his mother, Princess Diana, and changes to the monarchy when he becomes king.

London

Prince William opens up about family, future plans for monarchy

The White House says the first round of mass layoffs resulting from the government shutdown could be announced on Friday. CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports.

Government shutdown mass layoffs could begin today, White House says

One of the two people who died during the Manchester synagogue attack on Thursday was possibly struck by police gunfire, authorities say. CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab reports.

Manchester

One victim likely killed by police during Manchester synagogue attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia on Thursday (October 2). He fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump's remark calling Russia a "paper tiger", suggesting NATO might be one instead. Putin also warned that if the United States supplied Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine it would trigger a dangerous new escalation.

Sochi

Putin warns U.S. Tomahawk supply to Ukraine would trigger escalation

Ukraine and Russia have carried out another exchange of prisoners of war. About two hundred Ukrainian prisoners released by Russia have arrived in the Chernihiv region near Ukraine’s border with Belarus.

Chernihiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia, Ukraine exchange 185 prisoners of war in latest swap

Two Jewish men were killed and three other men were seriously injured in a terror attack outside a synagogue in the northern English city of Manchester, authorities said.

Two killed in U.K. terror attack outside synagogue on Yom Kippur

President Trump has declared the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels as the White House calls drug runners "unlawful combatants."

Trump declares U.S. in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels

The head of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Presidential Library has resigned after sources say he resisted a request from the Trump administration to give a sword from the library's collection to King Charles.

Abilene

Eisenhower library head resigns

Two regional jets crashed into each other on the tarmac at New York's LaGuardia Airport when the wing of one aircraft hit the front end of another. One flight attendant was injured.

Breakdown