The vice-chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, has said the establishment of the Japanese language and culture institute in the University is to help Nigeria emulate its technology and scientific development.
Prof. Na’allah spoke on Thursday in Abuja, during the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) First Chair event with the theme, “Post World War II: Reconstruction and Economic Development in Japan -Lesson for Nigeria.”
He said the fact that Japan as a culture and language had taken technology and science was becoming exemplary to the whole world.
“The University of Abuja has understood the importance to instill in our student’s spirit that will lead them to succeed in life. You see around the world that such spirit is the Japanese.
“This is a nation that has not got so much in resources but has focused on human resources to make sure that it nation is at the top of the whole world and consistently continues to develop and we think that young Nigerians should learn from this.
“So the university of Abuja has established the Japanese language and culture institute and we teach Japanese language along with options to our students and JICA is now working with us closely to make the university of Abuja a major centre for Japanese language, education and culture in Nigeria,” the vice-chancellor said.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, HE Matsunaga Kazuyoshi said the country has modernised and created a rich, prosperous, free and democratic country focusing on the rule of law, while maintaining its tradition and identities, which has earned it place as the first non-Western country to become a developed country.
He said one of the secrets of the Japanese economic miracle after the Second World War is the Meiji Restoration which marked the beginning of the transition from a non-Western culture to modernity in Japan, not only in dress, but also in the social system and the mindsets of the Japanese people.
“Today, the Japanese Government offers opportunities for people abroad to study in Japan. This month, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is reviewing applications for Japanese Government Scholarships. We have currently received over 1,000 applications from Nigerians,” he said.
RN
