25 Feb 2019

Japan is committed to supporting Botswana’s efforts of transforming from a resource-based to a knowledge-based one.

Ambassador of Japan, Mr Kozo Takeda, said efforts in place included scholarships offered by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) since 2005.

Mr Takeda, who was speaking at a farewell dinner for the next batch of beneficiaries of the programme on February 22, noted that while in Botswana the programme started with only one student, the country now secured three slots each year for post-graduate courses.

He said for undergraduate studies, potential beneficiaries of the programme from Botswana competed for slots with candidates from other countries.

“Since the onset of the Japanese government scholarships in Botswana, 31 Batswana have successfully received scholarships, including those who will leave for Japan this coming April. 

Some of them have returned to Botswana and become, for example, lecturers at the University of Botswana and some others are in critical positions of the government of Botswana and SADC,” he said.

Mr Takeda added that for the first time this year, the MEXT scholarship programme would include scholarships for teachers, under which teachers would be eligible to study in Japan for one and a half years.

Furthermore, he said the Japanese government also offered scholarships also through the African Business Education (ABE) Initiative for Youth.

“Through the programme, Japan had committed to provide 1 000 African nationals with Master’s Degree programmes from Japanese Universities, followed by hands-on internship training at Japanese companies,” he said.

He said since inception, 10 Batswana had benefitted through the programme.

The ambassador indicated that while the ABE initiative was a relatively new scheme in Japan’s human resource development for Africa, a great number of Batswana had received training through yet another programme, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

He stated that so far 800 Batswana have received training through JICA.

In addition, he noted that a Japanese NGO, Ashinaga Akueikai that financially supports orphans in Japan, had extended financial support to African orphans under its Ashinaga Africa Initiative.

“They introduced this programme in Botswana in 2014 and every year one orphaned student is awarded a full scholarship to study in world-leading universities,” Mr Takeda said.

Jwaneng mayor, Mr Obed Monkge, thanked the Japanese government for its continued contribution to the development of Botswana’s human resource.

Mr Monkge appealed to the MEXT scholarship beneficiaries, Mr Leeme Baruti, Ms Boitumelo Mokoka and Ms Lulu Seaba, who will be leaving for Japan in April to make Japan proud by putting to good use the knowledge they would acquire during their studies. ends