On October 30, 2024, a report meeting for ex-participants of the ABE Initiative (hereafter referred to as ABE) program was held. Previously, send-off and report meetings for ABE participants were mainly held in the capital, Abuja. However, this time, with networking activities at the Japan Pavilion, which was hosted by JETRO during the Lagos International Trade Fair which is held annually for 12 days starting November 1, in mind, it was firstly held in Lagos, one of Africa's leading economic cities during the period of International Trade Fair. Approximately 30 people attended, including the Director of General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Minister of the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Lagos State government officials, Japanese companies, and 10 ABE ex-participants from Lagos and surrounding areas.
During the meeting, four representatives of ABE ex-participants who studied in Japan from 2015 to 2023 shared their experiences, focusing on three main points: 1) their impressions of the Nigerian market before studying in Japan, 2) the perspectives on the Nigerian market they gained through internships at Japanese companies, including expectations and challenges, and 3) what they can do as ABE ex-participants based on these experiences. The Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and representatives from the Lagos State government expressed their gratitude to Japan for providing valuable human resource development opportunities and their intention to continue actively collaborating to promote investment from Japan to Nigeria. Additionally, two Japanese companies that accepted ABE participants as interns shared video messages expressing their expectations for ABE ex-participants in expanding their business into Nigeria. Tetsuya Yamamoto, Senior Representative of the JICA Nigeria Office, introduced JICA's "SDGs Business Supporting Survey" and expressed hope that utilizing such support schemes through ABE current- and ex-participants would further promote business collaboration between the two countries.
On the same day, prior to the report meeting, a brush-up orientation was conducted for 10 ABE ex-participants to prepare them for networking activities. This orientation aimed to reaffirm communication manners and behavioral guidelines for networking activities with Japanese companies, such as those at the aforementioned fair. Additionally, representatives from three Japanese companies based in Lagos introduced their business developments, challenges, and prospects in Nigeria. Through this orientation, the ABE ex-participants were better prepared to engage in more concrete networking activities by understanding the business strategies, concerns, and issues faced by Japanese companies operating in the Nigerian market, considering what they can contribute as ABE ex-participants.
The 2024 Lagos International Trade Fair commenced from November 1st. Some ABE ex-participants supported the operation of Japanese company booths at the Japan Pavilion during the fair. They also visited various Japanese company booths to engage in networking activities with visiting business representatives. As members of the *"Kakehashi Africa Nigeria Initiative" and as individuals, the ABE ex-participants actively participated in activities aimed at promoting business collaboration between Japan and Africa, which is the primary objective of the ABE Initiative.
*Kakehashi Africa is an organization established by ABE Initiative participants to promote collaboration between Africa and Japanese companies. With around 1,600 members, including many ABE Initiative alumni, Kakehashi Africa operates in over 48 African countries, leveraging its network to foster stronger ties and mutual growth.
Through this event, the ties between Africa and Japan were further deepened, marking a new step towards future business development.
JICA will continue to support current- and ex-participants of the JICA program, while strengthening networks and promoting collaboration with Japan. JICA is committed to fostering more talent to serve as a bridge between Africa and Japan.
Event Overview:
• Event: Report Meeting for Nigeria ABE Initiative Ex-Participants
• Date: October 30, 2024 (Wednesday)
• Organizer: JICA Nigeria Office
• Venue: Blow Fish Hotel
Speakers:
• Dr. Chinyere Almona (Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
• Dr. Adekunle Olayinka (Minister of the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure)
• Mr. Noriyuki Ogushi (Managing Director of Ajinomoto Foods Nigeria LTD)
• Mr. Nobuhiko Ichimiya (Managing Director of AAIC Nigeria Ltd.)
• Ms. Hidemi Obiorah (CEO, Hidemi Consulting Co.)
• Mr. Tetsuya Yamamoto (Senior Representative of the JICA Nigeria Office)
• Dr. Bolu Sarumoh (President of Kakehashi Africa Nigeria Initiative (KANI), ABE 2nd Batch)
• Mr. AKANDE Oluwasegun Oluwafemi (ABE 2nd Batch)
• Mr. MUHAMMED Ibrahim ldowu (ABE 8th Batch)
• Ms. IKUROYE Chinelo Olga (ABE 8th Batch)
• Mr. MUHAMMAD Muhammad Ibrahim (ABE 8th Batch)
Program Overview:
• October 30 (Wednesday)
o Part I: Brush-up orientation for networking activities
o Opening Remarks
・Dr. Bolu Sarumoh (President of KANI, ABE 2nd Batch)
o Welcome Remarks
・Mr. Tetsuya Yamamoto (Senior Representative of the JICA Nigeria Office)
o Review of business manner and communication in Japan
o Things to keep in mind during networking sessions
o Presentation by Japanese companies in Nigeria
・ Mr. Noriyuki Ogushi (Managing Director of Aiinomoto Foods Nigeria LTD)
・ Mr. Nobuhiko Ichimiya (Managing Director of AAIC Nigeria Ltd.)
・ Ms. Hidemi Obiorah (CEO, Hidemi Consulting Co.)
o Discussion regarding the role of ABE ex-participants as a bridge between Nigeria and Japan
o Closing Remarks of Part I
o Part II: Report Meeting
o Opening Remarks
・ Mr. Tetsuya Yamamoto (Senior Representative of the JICA Nigeria Office)
o Presentation by four ABE ex-participants
o Greetings from Dr. Chinyere Almona (Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
o Presentation about ABE Initiative and other Long Term Training Programs by JICA
o Closing Remarks
・ Mr. Tetsuya Yamamoto (Senior Representative of the JICA Nigeria Office)
Target Programs:
•
African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE Initiative)
:
This program targets African youth by providing opportunities for them to obtain master’s degrees from Japanese universities and to participate in internships with Japanese companies. The goal of the ABE Initiative is to support African industry talents and to make those talents serve as “bridges” for guiding Japanese businesses in Africa.
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