The University of Ibadan and Japan are to begin enduring bilateral relationships.
An indication of this was given when the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, received His Excellency, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a courtesy visit to his office.
Professor Adebowale, said an active Memorandum of Understanding would be signed to promote students’ exchange and the exchange of cultural and intellectual knowledge.
He recounted that the University of Ibadan is the premier university in Nigeria, hoping to become a postgraduate university in the near future.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the University is presently a comprehensive university offering courses in the humanities, pure sciences, the social sciences, and medicine. It is also a hub for Pan African University.
Professor Adebowale said all these attributes make UI eminently qualified to collaborate with Japan.
His Excellency, Ambassador Matsunaga, said he was in UI to foster bilateral relationships with the University through the donation of books to build a bridge between Nigeria and Japan.
He recalled that the relationship between Nigeria and Japan started in the early 60s, adding that Japan had been involved in the agriculture, water, and energy sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He said Japan wishes to take the relationship further by encouraging Nigerian youths to go to Japan for internships, short trainings, undergraduate and postgraduate studies to empower them to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and enrich the relationship between the two countries.
Ambassador Matsunaga noted that Nigeria is presently facing many challenges, which Japanese companies have the technological prowess to help solve.
Japan Donates Books to UI to Foster Bilateral Relationships
He said the youths would learn from Japan and come back to impart their knowledge to improve the Nigerian economy.
According to the Ambassador, such visits would also enable Nigerians to understand the Japanese culture better.
Ambassador Matsunaga was accompanied by his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs Yoko Matsunaga and the Secretary, Culture and Information, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Ms Mami Shimada.
