On 5 December 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan hosted a reception at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Headquarters to welcome the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Council to Tokyo as Council Members meet for their 82nd session.
The occasion brought together distinguished guests from Tokyo¡¯s diplomatic community, institutions, and Japan¡¯s government ministries, and ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ staff and Council Members, for an evening of addresses, friendship and dinner. The occasion provided a special opportunity for ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ and the Government of Japan to acknowledge their shared achievements over nearly five decades of partnership.
Opening the reception, Ms. Akiko Ikuina, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, remarked: ¡°First and foremost, I would like to extend a warm welcome to ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Council Members who contribute significantly to ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ¡¯s development.
¡°In recent years, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ has strengthened its role as an educational institution that nurtures the next generation of leaders through its graduate degree programmes. Against this backdrop, the collaboration between the Japanese government and ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ is steadily deepening.
¡°I would like to express my deep gratitude to Rector Marwala and the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Council Members for your cooperation, understanding and contributions. I wish ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ and everyone present here continued success.¡±
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Council Chair ¡®Funmi Olonisakin also expressed her appreciation: ¡°It is a privilege to be in such distinguished company at this reception, graciously hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. On behalf of the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Council, I wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Government of Japan for its unwavering support and for hosting ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ here in Tokyo for nearly 50 years.
¡°As ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ continues to build on its proud history, we remain united in our shared purpose: advancing solutions to the pressing challenges of our time. Let us look to the future with hope and determination, confident in our collective ability to make a difference.¡±
²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Rector Tshilidzi Marwala further highlighted: ¡°I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for their steadfast support of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ over the past five decades. Japan¡¯s generous support has been pivotal to the University¡¯s success.
¡°I am proud of our achievements over the past year ¡ª successes that would not have been possible without the leadership and vision of our esteemed Council Members. To them, and to our many partners represented here tonight ¡ª embassies, institutions, and friends of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ ¡ª we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your support has been vital to our mission, and it will remain so as we embark on the next chapter of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ¡¯s journey.¡±
