The Dream Factory: Chinese Presence on a Nigerian University Campus

The Chinese presence in Africa is usually analysed through a soft power framework that benefits China at the expense of host countries. But this article argues that the Chinese presence at the University of Lagos, one of Nigeria's premier universities, benefits both Nigerians and Chinese. For the former, signs of this presence generate dreams of migration and economic freedom; for the latter, they inspire dreams of cultural and economic influence. However, this interaction has not had a significant impact on Nigerian attitudes towards China, which are complex and variegated. The data was gathered through interviews with students and instructors at the University of Lagos's Confucius Institute and the direct observations of the researcher over a six-month period between 2021 and 2022.