JICA President Akihiko Tanaka visited the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Senegal from October 7 to October 16. In Nigeria, he met with Vice President Kassim Shettima and other government officials and inspected JICA’s cooperation projects. In Senegal, they attended the 40th anniversary celebration of the Senegal-Japan Vocational and Technical Training Center (CFPT-SJ), met with President Jomai Faye and other government officials, and inspected cooperation projects. President Jomai Fai and other government officials, and made inspections of cooperative projects.
Nigeria
President Tanaka met with Nigerian Vice President Kassim Shettima and other government officials to explain JICA’s projects in Nigeria and to express his hope for stronger collaboration in the future. Vice President Kassim Shettima expressed his appreciation for JICA’s cooperation to date, including the polio eradication projects that contributed to the 2020 Polio-Free Declaration, and also indicated that JICA is an important partner for Nigeria and that he looks forward to strengthening ties through further cooperation.
In addition, Chairman Tanaka visited the Nigerian Office of Digital Innovation (ONDI), which is responsible for supporting entrepreneurs and startups in the Nigerian government. In Nigeria, startups are increasingly attracting attention as leaders in solving various social issues, including poverty. To this end, JICA has been dispatching experts to ONDI to gather information on trends and conditions of startups and to support the formulation of strategic documents related to startups. The Director General of the National Agency for Information Technology Development, which oversees ONDI, accompanied the delegation on the visit and expressed his appreciation for the work of the experts and his hopes for continued cooperation.
In addition, Chancellor Tanaka also had a lively exchange with alumni who have obtained master’s and doctoral degrees in Japan through JICA’s study abroad programs. In Nigeria, more than 150 students have participated in JICA’s study abroad programs, and a volunteer group of program graduates has established a corporation called KAKEHASHI Africa Nigeria (KANI) to encourage Japanese companies to enter the Nigerian market. The company is now working to encourage Japanese companies to expand their business operations in Nigeria. President Tanaka expressed his expectations for KANI’s role as a driving force for Nigeria’s future economic growth and for the deepening of ties between Japan and Nigeria.
Meeting with Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Meeting with Waleh Edun, Minister of Finance and Economic Coordination
President Tanaka inspecting a start-up support facility Interaction with JICA study abroad program graduates
Senegal
In his meeting with Senegalese President Faye and other key government officials, President Tanaka expressed his respect for Senegal’s democratic change of government and its role as a model country for democracy in West Africa, as well as its role in promoting peace and stability in the Sahelian countries. He also informed the participants that next year, 2025, will mark the 45th anniversary of the opening of the JICA office in Senegal and the dispatch of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers to Senegal, and reviewed JICA projects in Senegal to date. President Faye expressed his gratitude for JICA’s cooperation over the years and his expectations for further cooperation by JICA in line with the development policy of the new administration.
Next, President Tanaka attended the 40th anniversary celebration of the Japan-Senegal Vocational Training Center (CFPT-SJ). During the ceremony, he congratulated the CFPT-SJ for having trained more than 7,000 human resources since 1984, and its graduates have contributed to the industrial development of Senegal and neighboring countries as senior technicians with technical skills and competencies. President Tanaka also paid tribute to local officials for their great efforts over the past 40 years to make CFPT-SJ a center for vocational training not only in Senegal but also in Africa.
During the meeting between President Tanaka and Minister Salé, Minister of Vocational Training, Minister Salé expressed his gratitude for JICA’s 40 years of cooperation in vocational training. President Tanaka stressed the importance of human resource development and said that JICA will continue to contribute to human resource development in Senegal, including vocational training.
In addition, President Tanaka also had active exchanges with overseas cooperation teams, farmers adopting the market-oriented agricultural promotion (SHEP) approach, and officials from schools targeted by the math education project.
President Faye meeting with President Tanaka (Photo courtesy of the Senegalese government) President Tanaka inspecting CFPT-SJ with Prime Minister Sonko (center photo) and Minister of Vocational Training Salé (right photo)
CFPT-SJ President Tanaka delivers a congratulatory speech at the CFPT-SJ 40th anniversary ceremony Math class
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