Former teacher from Shanghai now a tribal chief and successful businessman in Nigeria
Chinese expatriate appointed as tribal leader for his contributions to society
A former teacher from Shanghai who has lived in Nigeria for four decades has been appointed a tribal chief, becoming the first Chinese expatriate to receive such an honour in Africa.
Hu Jieguo, 68, said he first went to the western African country in 1975 to help his father with his textile factory business, the Guangzhou Daily reported. Hu was working as an English teacher at a middle school in Shanghai until then.
Appointed as tribal chief in 2001 for his contributions to local society, Hu is a successful businessman and a celebrity in the country, the report said.
He worked at his father’s factory until 1997, when he set up a restaurant in a prime location in Lagos as he said he was interested in working with people, not machines.
The Chinese food restaurant is popular, especially with government officials. He counts the Nigerian president and the foreign affairs and cultural ministers as customers and has become friends with them.