Awards Ceremony for World Maritime University (WMU) Sasakawa Fellows in the Class of 2022

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Good morning everyone. President Cleopatra, Sasakawa Fellows and participants. It is a great joy for me to celebrate with you the embarkation of the thirty-one graduating Sasakawa Fellows. President Cleopatra has steered the World Maritime University with overwhelming ardor and having received Degree Accreditation by the Government of Sweden in maritime affairs this January, WMU is today an outstanding university, highly regarded in Sweden and around the world. To you, Sasakawa Fellows, be proud that you are graduates of this eminent university and strive forward to take on new challenges.

Every year I take this opportunity to convey a message to all departing Sasakawa Fellows. That is that The Nippon Foundation not only provides scholarships, but we wish to keep in touch with all the Sasakawa Fellows as members of a family by building a network of all who have completed their studies. As you are aware, the environment surrounding the ocean and the maritime sector is undergoing dramatic changes. We also know that while there are more than one hundred and ninety countries, there is but only one ocean. I hope you will make the most of this network of Sasakawa Fellows so that together with The Friends of WMU, The Nippon Foundation, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Ocean Policy Research Institute, you will join forces and ensure that this one and only healthy ocean is handed down to the next generation. 


We call our philosophy of cooperation and solidarity for creating a better society “One World One Family”. This is the core of our activities across the boundaries of politics, ideology, religion, race, and national borders. Let us continue to contribute together to realize a wonderful world based on this strongly bonded family of Sasakawa Fellows. Once again, congratulations and welcome to The Friends of WMU. Thank you.