Wednesday 14 September 2016

29 Nigerians receive Japanese ABE Initiative Scholarship


The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma
Twenty Nine Nigerian have qualified for the 2016 African Business Education Initiative Scholarship, which is sponsored by the Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The programme enables recipients to do their masters’ degree programmes and internship in various fields as international students.  Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who spoke at an event, where the beneficiaries were sent forth, commended the government of Japan for the opportunity granted young Nigerians to improve their lot eductionally.

Represented by the Assistant Director, International Cooperation, Mr. Simon Ileuma, the Udoma expressed the belief that the recipients would return and contribute their quota to nation building. 
He charged them not only to be good ambassadors of their country, but also to imbibe the Japanese culture of patriotism and entrepreneurial drive. Of the over 100 entries that were received, only 29 were selected from among ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as the private sector.
Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke Sama, who was represented by the JICA Country Representative, Mr. Nakamura Sama, commended the recipients for their achievement, saying that it came through a difficult selection process.

He added: “Now, I have no doubt that you will successfully complete your studies in a few years time in Japan and hope you will, as the Abe-Initiative participants, help contribute to the development of Nigeria.
The ambassador who, informed that the ABE Initiative was conceived under the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), added that “It has become all the more relevant in the light of sinking commodity prices affecting many countries, including Nigeria. This is reflected in this year’s TICAD Ⅵ programme, which had economic diversification as one of its most important topics.

“The key objective of the ABE Initiative is to offer students the opportunity to read master’s degree courses at Japanese universities, as well as practice internships in the Japanese private sector. The initiative is designed to combine academic learning and business practice … I hope that you, as the Abe-initiative participants, will help together realize a more inclusive, more diversified economy in this great country.”   
President, Nigeria-Japan Alumni Association, Mohammed Dauda, also commended Japanese government for the initiative, saying, “We have seen the improved interest by the Japanese government intervention agencies in various sectors of the Nigerian economy, particularly in the education sector.

“This is a very commendable effort and we assure you that Nigerian government and its people are closing monitoring these activities”, he said.

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