UNDP and IUJ Hold Joint Event on Japan-Africa Collaboration

On August 21, 2024, the International University of Japan (IUJ) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a joint event at the IUJ campus in Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The event saw participation from many students of Niigata University, Nagaoka University of Technology, and the National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College. Following this, attendees had the opportunity to listen to a keynote address by Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa. The event was also broadcast online, reaching a wide audience.

The event began with opening remarks from IUJ Vice President Hiroshi Kato, followed by a speech from Ms. Eziakonwa, who spoke on the diversity of Africa and the empowerment of women.

In the latter half, a panel discussion on the cooperation between Japan and Africa took place. The panel featured Ms. Eziakonwa, Toshiyuki Nakamura, Special Advisor to the President of JICA, and Mr. Sako, a second-year student from Senegal studying at IUJ’s Graduate School of International Relations.

The event concluded with a lively Q&A session where university and high school students posed a variety of questions, marking a successful conclusion to the event.