Reference: JICA

Name: Abdulazeez Idiaro
Country of Origin: Nigeria
Batch: 9th Batch (Arrived in Japan in September 2022)
Name of University/Graduate School in Japan: International University of Japan/Graduate School of International Management
Course: Master of Business Administration (Marketing, Management & IT/Operations/Supply Chain Management)

Mr. Abdulazeez is a Nigerian 9th Batch ABE Initiative participant. His goal is to become a leader that facilitates the development of products and services that addresses various problems from a glocal perspective. He is passionate about adopting the Japanese “sampo yoshi” philosophy to collaborate and achieve set goals at agreed timelines. His experience in Japan has allowed him to study and work with various groups and organizations on local and international projects across Africa, Asia, America, and beyond. He has successfully leveraged digital technologies, managerial knowledge and cross-cultural skills to achieve objectives with various teams and partners. As well as focusing on research, he is also president of the African Community, and he organized a major event last 20 May 2024 to boost the African community on the occasion of ‘Africa Day’.

Brief About IUJ African Community

The International University of Japan (IUJ) is a distinguished private postgraduate institution that exemplifies Japan’s unwavering commitment to academic distinction and global cooperation. Founded in 1982, IUJ has educated capable young adults and developed them into global leaders with a high level of interdisciplinary and specialized knowledge ready to drive global change. As part of its main attraction, the university houses international students from all over the world and hosts various continental and regional communities. One such community is the African Community which is the largest community at the university and has 28 African countries that are represented.

Over the years, the African Community of the university has hosted and celebrated various events such as “Africa Day” among others, which is celebrated every year in the foundation Organization of African Unity on 25 May 1963. In this regard, the IUJ African students’ community commemorate Africa Day by hosting its maiden symposium that contained a panel discussion in the AU theme 2024, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa.”

Background to the Event

Africa boasts a wealth of skills, capacity, and experience. The idea for an intellectual session originated from one of our members at various fora. After discussing it among ourselves extensively, we engaged the school management and other stakeholders. Initially, the concept was to have professionals discuss the future of African development in person at IUJ. However, we decided to expand this idea, resulting in the decision to host an IUJ African Symposium where stakeholders could physically gather to discuss core intellectual issues on campus in a panel session.

Planning

We held several meetings and appointed Co-Event Directors, Mr. Olayemi Ajibola Emmanuel and Ms. Mtshali Mbali, along with a vibrant team of IUJ Africa Community members. Together, we drafted the concept note, invitation letters, and other necessary documents. Leveraging our members’ diverse backgrounds from approximately 30 African countries from various sectors, we created a detailed plan and reached out to various embassies, financiers, partners, speakers, and other stakeholders. This entire process was completed within two months, requiring everyone to work diligently to ensure success.

The team reviewed the African Day 2024 theme, which focuses on education. Members suggested diverse themes and topics, but we jointly narrowed them down to education and ICT. Based on these suggestions, we engaged education professionals and ICT experts among us to articulate everyone’s ideas, resulting in the event theme: “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa.”

Process

Organizing the event was exciting and drew on our varied field experiences. Living in Japan provided us with insights into the Japanese thought process and culture, which helped us strategize and structure the event effectively. We also needed to approach it from a glocal perspective to give it the class and glamour it deserves, all this within a short timeline, which i fondly call working at “Shinkansen Speed”. With moral and financial support from the university management and partnerships with stakeholders offering complementary services, we moved forward. We identified key individuals to participate in discussions, ensuring a fruitful outcome.

Despite challenges, the team’s collective effort, clear goals, and resilience enabled us to navigate obstacles. Planning two events (the Open Day and African Day) within a week interval required multitasking across physically and virtually required intense coordination, but it was ultimately worthwhile and a good learning experience.

Lessons Learned

We learned that with prayer, planning, and hard work, nothing is impossible. Setting clear goals, making a plan, and working towards it are crucial. Having a self-motivated team is important, with limited resources you can do a lot. It is important to leverage on experiences and let people make inputs. We also learned the need for tenacity, and having centralized platform to give people up-to-date information makes a significant difference. There is need to encourage people to take and innovate, but staying hands-on is equally important to initiate backup plans when necessary. Having a lean team initially is crucial, then scale up as the need arises makes a lot of difference. Some can be in multiple groups, but eventually, everyone should be merged as the project comes closer. Leveraging digital technologies and consulting with key stakeholders helped streamline the process. Our collective effort as African students at IUJ showcased the strength of African diversity and our ability to effect change.

Impact

This event demonstrated our ability to highlight Africa’s educational challenges and innovations, providing a platform for others to learn from our experiences in educational technologies. It emphasized the importance of viewing Africa as a partner, working together to conceptualize and initiate innovative projects in education and technology.

Appreciation

A heartfelt thanks to the IUJ African Community team, the International University of Japan’s management and staff, Japan International Development Cooperation, the embassies of Senegal, Ghana, and Kenya, Divic Corp, panelists, the media, and all other stakeholders who supported and contributed to this event.

Event Summary:

The Africa Day Symposium 2024, held at the International University of Japan (IUJ), was a landmark event celebrating the vibrant cultures and the progressive educational strides of African nations. The symposium brought together dignitaries, scholars, and students to discuss the theme, “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive Lifelong Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa.

Welcome Address:

The event commenced with introduction by Mr. Olayemi Ajibola Emmanuel, the Master of Ceremony, and a welcome address by Mr. Abdulazeez Idiaro, President of the IUJ African Community. His address set the tone for the symposium, highlighting the importance of resilient educational systems to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Mr. Idiaro emphasized the need to innovate and adapt in light of challenges such as the digital divide and inadequate infrastructure, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also underscored the commitment to enhancing digital infrastructure and fostering public-private partnerships to create inclusive, equitable, and effective educational systems.

Keynote Speech:

Prof. Hiroshi Kato, Vice President of International University of Japan (and Former Vice President of JICA), delivered a keynote speech. He stressed the importance of collaboration between Asia and Africa to build a peaceful and prosperous world by the end of the 21st century. Prof. Kato’s remarks pointed out the demographic significance of Africa and Asia and the need for mutual cooperation in educational and technological advancements.

Panel Discussion 1: Building Resilient Education Systems in Africa:

Moderated by Mr. George Omiro, this session featured distinguished panelists:

The panelists discussed strategies to ensure quality assurance in teacher education, efforts to integrate agriculture education and technology, and effective policies from other regions that could be adapted to improve educational outcomes in Africa. They also explored the shift from traditional educational practices to competency-based education programs and the importance of lifelong learning and continuous professional development for educators.

Panel Discussion 2: Innovation and Technology in Education:

Moderated by Abdulazeez Idiaro, this session included:

The discussion focused on innovative financing models to support educational technology, technological innovations and policies from Japan that could enhance learning in Africa, and the barriers to integrating technology in African education systems. The panelists also addressed the role of ed-tech startups, the lessons from the global shift to online learning due to COVID-19, and the importance of ensuring that technological innovations reach marginalized populations.

Key Insights and Recommendations:

Closing Remarks:

Mr Zouga Seling, the Second Secretary and Political Representative of the Kenyan Ambassador to Japan, delivered the closing remarks. He commended the IUJ African Community for organizing the symposium and highlighted the importance of African solutions to African problems, driven by data-driven approaches and inclusive glocal strategies.

Conclusion:

The Africa Day Symposium 2024 at IUJ was a resounding success, fostering insightful discussions on building resilient education systems in Africa through innovation and technology.

 

Reference: JICA