WMU Africa Sasakawa Fellow Networking Meeting
Mr. Foued Othman, CEO of the Office of Merchant Marine and Ports of Tunisia, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University, and WMU Fellows. I would like to thank you for organizing this networking session at the same time Japan is hosting the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. This session will offer opportunities for exchange of views on ocean issues in Africa and beyond and for WMU Fellows to deepen ties among yourselves.
The Nippon Foundation’s relations with Africa go back almost forty years. We have been active not only in the maritime and ocean field that you specialize in but also in the areas of agricultural assistance and elimination of leprosy. Having visited almost thirty African countries, I feel very close to you and at the same time, consider you as my colleagues with whom I have overcome many difficulties in the spirit of “Never Give Up.”
As you know, the ocean is a common asset of humanity. The challenges we face require cooperation across countries and disciplines for orderly management of the environment, fisheries, energy, maritime safety, and international law. Against this backdrop, African nations too, while appreciating the importance of individual marine resource conservation and the sustainable use of the vast African oceans are now making joint efforts in ocean management. Africa hosted the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in 2018 and the blue economy policy dialogue during the UN Ocean Conference in 2022. Although western countries have taken the initiative to lead those international ocean conferences now there is a growing momentum for Africa to play a greater role. I sincerely hope that as WMU Fellows, you will also contribute to the orderly management of the oceans of Africa. You can do this by making full use of the expertise you have developed at WMU, experiences from your current field work, and the network of more than 1,600 Sasakawa Fellow ocean specialists all over the world, of which you are a part.
Ocean issues are wide-ranging. Although you may not see tangible results in the short term, you have to take action with a long-term perspective. But as the people of Africa have taught me, let us work towards passing on the sustainable oceans to the future generations in the spirit of Never Give Up. I look forward to the success of this gathering and your future work. Thank you very much.
*This video message is available at The Nippon Foundation YouTube.