Abuja, Nigeria - As part of its effort to strengthen West Africa's peace-support operations, the Japanese government has donated US$ 1 million for the construction of a residential accommodation for course participants at the Nigerian National Defence College.
The Japan Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, said that the donation was in line with the policy adopted by the Group of 8 (G8) Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 2008, to strengthen support for peace-support operations with a focus on Africa.
He said that the Japan government was also implementing such programmes in other African countries like Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Benin, Mali, Cameroon and Rwanda.
Uesawa, who was at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Japanese government-funded 32-room hostel located at the Piwoyi Area of the Abuja, the Nigerian capital city, said that the project which commenced in March was scheduled for completion in March 2011.
It is being supervised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The ambassador also hinted that the total volume of Japanese assistance to Nigeria since independence in 1960 amounted to 600 billion naira (about US$ 4 billion), including a debt relief of US$ 2 billion.
Emphasizing the need for Nigeria to bring its human resources to bear on Africa, he said 'As farmers cultivate their land for good harvest, I want you to cultivate your human resources because when Africa's largest human resource becomes ready to be tapped, I believe that Nigeria will fully display its ability.'
The diplomat who was of the opinion that there would be no peace and stability in the Africa without Nigeria, commended Abuja for its peace-keeping efforts in Africa and the world in general.
Commenting on Nigeria's electoral process, Uesawa said the international community was watching the African nation closely, hoping that the 2011 polls would be peaceful and democratic.
He pledge his country's support to Nigeria's effort to hold a free and fair election.
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