Dr Yohei Sasakawa Meets with Class of 2022 Sasakawa Fellowship Students

The 31 Sasakawa Fellowship Students in the soon-to-graduate Class of 2022 were delighted to join an online meeting with Dr Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation. The Class of 2022 Sasakawa Fellowship Students come from 29 different countries. An additional 30 students sponsored by the Sasakawa Fellowship Programme in the Class of 2023 also attended the meeting. 

In welcome remarks, Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU, thanked Dr Sasakawa and The Nippon Foundation for their ongoing support of WMU. Reflecting on the 759 fellowships provided to date to individuals from 84 countries she said, “As the number of Sasakawa Fellows grows worldwide, their influence continues to grow and multiply. They are indeed a global engine of sustainable innovation and development.”

Dr Sasakawa addressed the gathering expressing his hope that each of the students would make the most of the global Sasakawa Fellows network to join forces and protect the ocean, which the maritime sector and humanity are dependent on, to ensure a healthy ocean is handed down to the next generation. He also encouraged them to work toward the Foundation’s “One World One Family” philosophy of cooperation and solidarity for creating a better society.

Each student had the opportunity to introduce themselves to Dr Sasakawa and express their gratitude to The Nippon Foundation for funding their studies at the World Maritime University (WMU). The meeting concluded with remarks on behalf of the students from Mr Kwadwo Forson-Adaboh from Ghana, a Sasakawa Fellowship recipient and President of the Student Council. He expressed their deep gratitude for the generosity of The Nippon Foundation that has provided life-changing opportunities for the global Sasakawa Fellows network, and pledged that the Class of 2022 Sasakawa Fellows would do their part to uphold and share the values and mission of The Nippon Foundation to advance a peaceful society as they serve as maritime and ocean leaders for their respective countries.  

About The Nippon Foundation’s Support to WMU

Through the mission of social innovation, The Nippon Foundation aims to achieve a society where all people support one another, reducing the burdens and challenges they face by working together. The Nippon Foundation’s contributions to WMU began in 1987 with providing fellowships for WMU students. The WMU Sasakawa Fellowship Programme began in 1988. The Nippon Foundation is the largest fellowship donor to the University, providing 30 new awards on an annual basis.

In addition to providing Fellowships, The Nippon Foundation usually hosts a week-long field study to Japan, although this could not take place since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2001, SPF has regularly hosted Regional Network Meetings for WMU Sasakawa Fellows. The Nippon Foundation further supports the capacity building mission of WMU by substantially funding the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, as well as funding five Professorial Chairs, an Associate Professor and numerous conferences and events connected with WMU.

Each year, a limited number of Sasakawa Fellowships are open to government employees from developing countries. The Sasakawa Fellowship Awards Committee looks for well qualified candidates with a strong academic and professional record. Candidates aged between 26 and 35 are prioritized. Interested applicants should apply for admission to the University, and in tandem, should submit an Application for Donor Funding from their organizations, plus a Sasakawa Fellowship Motivational Statement, completed by the candidate. It is essential that both these forms are completed in detail. Complete applications must be sent to the University by the end of January in the year of entry. For more information, click here.

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