NIGERIA: Japanese Ambassador Urges Malawian Alumni To Share Knowledge And Skills

By Smile Hamilton, Malawi 

Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Yoichi Oya, has challenged Malawian alumni who benefited from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to implement their skills in Malawi, and share their knowledge with others.

Oya made this call during an alumni networking cocktail at his residence in Lilongwe, where he also emphasised the importance of the private sector supporting the Malawi government in human capital development.

Oya encouraged the private sector to sponsor individuals to further their studies abroad, highlighting Japan’s critical role in development through mindset change and culture.

He believes that by sharing their skills and knowledge, the alumni can make a significant impact on Malawi’s development.

Memory Kalaya Banda, a lecturer at the Malawi Assemblies of God and one of the JICA alumni, agrees that improving the quality of Malawi’s education is possible through such scholarships.

Banda’s sentiments were echoed by John Kabaghe, Deputy Director of Asia, Pacific, and the Middle East in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who stressed that human development is crucial for Malawi to achieve its 2063 blueprint.

The Japanese government has been actively supporting Malawi’s development through various initiatives, including the provision of fertiliser to support food production.

Japan has also pledged support for Malawi’s climate change initiatives and has provided funding for various projects, including the construction of primary schools.