The African youth from Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles and Somalia gathers in Nairobi for the African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) Send-off Ceremony
2017/8/22
22 August 2017, Nairobi - The African youth from Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles and Somalia had gathered in Nairobi for a joint send-off ceremony for the Master's Degree and Internship Program of African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative) organized by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Kenya Office. Out of 23 successful candidates selected as ABE participants from those countries; 19 are from Kenya, 2 from Eritrea, 1 from Somalia and 1 from Seychelles.
More than 60 people attended the ceremony, including H.E. Toshitsugu Uesawa, Ambassador of Japan to Kenya, H.E. Beyene Russom, Ambassador of Eritrea to Kenya, Mr. Simon Angote, Director for Public Service Management, Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs representing the Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Sicily Kanini Kariuki, Mr. Naoki Kumagai, Chairman, The Japanese Business Association in Kenya and Ms. Keiko Sano, JICA Kenya Office, Chief Representative. The members from JICA Ex-participants Alumni of Kenya (JEPAK), a network of Kenya professionals who have benefited from Kenya/Japan technical assistance, as well as corporate executives from the Japanese private sector also attended the ceremony in support of the on-going dynamic growth of Africa with stronger public-private partnerships.
Ambassador Toshitsugu Uesawa, in his opening remarks, congratulated the successful candidates for passing the rigorous selection process and encouraged them to capitalize on this unique opportunity to develop effective skills and gain useful knowledge, which can in turn be used to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive development of their respective countries by bridging Africa and Japan.
H.E. Beyene Russom, Ambassador of Eritrea to Kenya, encouraged the candidates to become goodwill ambassadors for the two countries and Africa, not only in academic fields but also through cultural exchanges. He also expressed his expectation for the candidates to build strong linkages with the Japanese corporate stakeholders to promote private sector investment in accelerating socio-economic growth for the country and the region.
Mr. Simon Angote, Director for Public Service Management, Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs in Kenya, advised the candidates to make the utmost use of opportunities of the long-term study abroad and to be proud of being selected ABE scholars who can acquire advanced Japanese skills and expertise that can contribute to the country’s development and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Naoki Kumagai, Chairman, The Japanese Business Association in Kenya, noted that Japanese companies are actively conducting business and engaging in collaborative partnerships with Africa. He highlighted the importance of understanding both language and culture that are essential in building trust and promoting ethical behavior that can bring significant benefits to a doing business between Japan and Africa.
Ms. Keiko Sano, JICA Kenya Office, Chief Representative, in her concluding remarks, reminded the candidates that many friends are waiting for them in Japan, not only JICA staff, but also the Kakehashi-Africa Alumni (composed of ABE Initiative graduates), as well as many students, professors and members of the local community, who will give them a helping hand.
The ABE Initiative offers opportunities to young and eligible African men and women to study Master’s course level in Japanese Universities as international students and to experience internships at Japanese enterprises in order to develop effective skills and knowledge in various fields towards contributing to the development of industries in Africa. This program also aims at human resource development in both private and public sectors in order to cultivate a strong human network between Japan and African States.
To learn more about ABE initiative, please visit our portal website:
http://education-japan.org/africa/
How to apply:
https://www.jica.go.jp/english/countries/africa/internship.html
More than 60 people attended the ceremony, including H.E. Toshitsugu Uesawa, Ambassador of Japan to Kenya, H.E. Beyene Russom, Ambassador of Eritrea to Kenya, Mr. Simon Angote, Director for Public Service Management, Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs representing the Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Sicily Kanini Kariuki, Mr. Naoki Kumagai, Chairman, The Japanese Business Association in Kenya and Ms. Keiko Sano, JICA Kenya Office, Chief Representative. The members from JICA Ex-participants Alumni of Kenya (JEPAK), a network of Kenya professionals who have benefited from Kenya/Japan technical assistance, as well as corporate executives from the Japanese private sector also attended the ceremony in support of the on-going dynamic growth of Africa with stronger public-private partnerships.
Ambassador Toshitsugu Uesawa, in his opening remarks, congratulated the successful candidates for passing the rigorous selection process and encouraged them to capitalize on this unique opportunity to develop effective skills and gain useful knowledge, which can in turn be used to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive development of their respective countries by bridging Africa and Japan.
H.E. Beyene Russom, Ambassador of Eritrea to Kenya, encouraged the candidates to become goodwill ambassadors for the two countries and Africa, not only in academic fields but also through cultural exchanges. He also expressed his expectation for the candidates to build strong linkages with the Japanese corporate stakeholders to promote private sector investment in accelerating socio-economic growth for the country and the region.
Mr. Simon Angote, Director for Public Service Management, Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs in Kenya, advised the candidates to make the utmost use of opportunities of the long-term study abroad and to be proud of being selected ABE scholars who can acquire advanced Japanese skills and expertise that can contribute to the country’s development and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Naoki Kumagai, Chairman, The Japanese Business Association in Kenya, noted that Japanese companies are actively conducting business and engaging in collaborative partnerships with Africa. He highlighted the importance of understanding both language and culture that are essential in building trust and promoting ethical behavior that can bring significant benefits to a doing business between Japan and Africa.
Ms. Keiko Sano, JICA Kenya Office, Chief Representative, in her concluding remarks, reminded the candidates that many friends are waiting for them in Japan, not only JICA staff, but also the Kakehashi-Africa Alumni (composed of ABE Initiative graduates), as well as many students, professors and members of the local community, who will give them a helping hand.
The ABE Initiative offers opportunities to young and eligible African men and women to study Master’s course level in Japanese Universities as international students and to experience internships at Japanese enterprises in order to develop effective skills and knowledge in various fields towards contributing to the development of industries in Africa. This program also aims at human resource development in both private and public sectors in order to cultivate a strong human network between Japan and African States.
 Ambassador Toshitsugu Uesawa congratulates successful ABE candidates for passing the rigorous selection process. |
 H.E. Beyene Russom, Ambassador of Eritrea to Kenya, encourages ABE candidates to become goodwill ambassadors. |
 Mr. Simon Angote, Director for Public Service Management, Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs in Kenya, urges ABE scholars to make the utmost use of opportunities of the long-term study and internship programme. |
 Mr. Naoki Kumagai, Chairman, Japanese Business Association in Kenya, highlights the importance of understanding both language and culture that are essential in doing business. |
 Mr. Benson Igesa, shared his experience as the 1st batch ABE graduate and advised the candidates to quickly adapt to what they will encounter in Japan, in cultivating trust and friendship. |
 Ms. Keiko Sano, JICA Kenya Office, Chief Representative, reminds the candidates that many friends are already waiting for them in Japan. |
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Fourth batch ABE candidates from Eritrea, Kenya, Seychelles and Somalia to be dispatched to their respective universities in Japan undergoes orientation at Crown Plaza Hotel in Nairobi. |
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To learn more about ABE initiative, please visit our portal website:
http://education-japan.org/africa/
How to apply:
https://www.jica.go.jp/english/countries/africa/internship.html