Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has launched public lectures to exchange knowledge on Japan’s modernisation and development history with students at the University of Juba.
The first lecture was held yesterday at the University of Juba under the theme “Japanese modernisation: an adaptation to enhance national identity and uniqueness in South Sudan.”
It intends to equip the students with technical knowledge of how Japan emerged as one of the world’s most powerful economies after the devastating World War II.
In his virtual opening remarks, Naohiro Tsutsumi, the Japanese Ambassador to South Sudan, equated his country’s history to that of South Sudan, now struggling with redress of post-civil war challenges constraining development in the country.
Tsutsumi said two important things made Japan gain its present status: “peaceful people surrounding Japan and quality human resources,” which South Sudan should emulate to effect the needed modern development without endangering its national identity.
Crucial lessons
“Japan is the first non-western country to have achieved modernisation and development without its tradition intact. Hence, South Sudan could benefit from the lectures concerning its development stages,” Tsutsumi said.
The lecture which is the first of its kind on Japan-South Sudan’s bilateral relations was attended by senior government officials. They included professors and staff from the University of Juba, including Vice-Chancellor John Akech, as well as over 100 students.
Prof. Akech said the Japanese-chair-program matches with the university’s motto to “invest in the future and transform society.” his students have to take his advice seriously as future leaders of South Sudan.
“Our role as a university is to prepare future leaders. As a young nation, we look at the development models of Japan, and we hope that some of them will build the government, and we will acquire the available knowledge and put it into practice,” said Prof. Akech.
Meanwhile, students who participated in the session commended the Japanese government for initiating the programme to help South Sudan, as a young nation, overcome challenges and focus on development.
Racial Ayen Bol said ethnicity stunted the development of South Sudan and that it was the right moment for leaders to emulate Japan to bring about tangible development for the people of South Sudan.
“We should employ the Japanese model of development as a country that has come out from devastating wars now well-developed.” If South Sudan shuns tribalism, nepotism and violence, we can become like Japan,” Ayen said “But it will not take us 60 years like Japan, I hope.”
The event was part of the Japanese government’s bilateral capacity support through JICA, with a key focus on human resource development as a prerequisite to South Sudan’s development dream.
JICA has been implementing several developmental projects in South Sudan, including a clean and safe water project and millions of dollars worth of Freedom Bridge, expected to be completed this year.
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