Japan is still dedicated to peace and stability in Nigeria and Africa, according to Lt.-Col. Morita Tatsuya, Japan’s defense attaché to the Nigerian embassy.
This was said by Mr. Tatsuya during a press conference in Lagos on Monday.
He gave a speech at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA) during the launch of the Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) Course 5/2024.
In collaboration with the Japanese government, the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized the course.
According to Mr. Tatsuya, Japan would provide all the assistance required to maintain peace and stability in Nigeria and throughout Africa through human resource development in collaboration with UN organizations.
Japan has continuously demonstrated throughout the years its dedication to funding capacity building and crucial training for African-led peace assistance missions.
Japan acknowledges that African-led Peace Support Operations play a vital role in preserving stability and peace in Africa.
“For the past six years, including this one, we have been supporting the Peacekeeping Operation (PKO) training in Nigeria in collaboration with the UNDP and PKO training centers,” he stated.
He claimed that since the first Defense Attaché was assigned to Nigeria’s embassy in 2015, the two countries’ defense-related friendship has grown stronger.
“We would like to work towards a stronger partnership, even though direct defense cooperation between Nigeria and Japan has not yet been realized,” he stated.
The Japanese official was hopeful that the training would equip participants with the skills they need to defend Nigeria and the ECOWAS region and fight violent extremism.
He praised the course organizers and expressed gratitude for their efforts in equipping the participants with the necessary knowledge and abilities to combat violent extremism in the ECOWAS region.
Speaking as well, Maj.-Gen. Taiwo Adedoja, the commandant of MLAILPKC, stated that governments, civic society, and international organizations must work together to combat the evil of violent extremism.
According to Mr. Adedoja, violent extremism has recently evolved into a conduit for terrorism, igniting destructive attacks, upsetting communities, fostering hatred, and taking the lives of innumerable innocent people.
This course qualifies participants for deployment in integrated peacekeeping missions under the UN, AU, and ECOWAS auspices and is created in accordance with UN training standards.
He declared that by the end of the training, participants would have the ability to make a good difference and help to improve the safety, security, and peace of the people of Nigeria and Africa.
According to Williams Tusma, the UNDP representative, violent extremism is a major obstacle to the sub-region’s ability to achieve Agenda 2030 and the SDGs.
Mr. Tusma advised students to commit to the course and gain the necessary information in order to contribute to our region’s socioeconomic growth.
“To counter this menace, we must be united, strong, quick, and cross-border.
The accomplishment of the SDGs, Agenda 2030, and African Development Agenda 2063 will all be aided by this necessary understanding.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP), the Government of Japan, and the MLAILPKC for their ongoing, solid collaboration with UNDP, which helped make the event a reality.
