Date: 2018-07-17

Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad has disclosed that efforts are in top gear to facilitate Students Exchange Programme between the State and Japan.

This, he noted, would expose the students to various technologies in the Asian country and in turn have positive impact, not only in the state but Nigeria as a whole in the nearest future.

A Press Release issued by the speaker's Special Assistant on Media, Shuaib Abdulkadir, quoted the speaker as disclosing this while hosting the Japanesse Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Yutaka Kikuta to a dinner in his house in Ilorin at the weekend.

To achieve this, Ahmad expressed the 8th Assembly's commitment and dedication under his leadership to do whatever it would be required legislatively to ensure the programme's realisation.

Stressing that Japan is adjudged as one of the best countries in technology, he added that such programme would ultimately improve Kwara technologically and strengthen the ties between Nigerian and Japanesse Governments.

..."We will look at a way of collaborating and we have already been discussing about Students Exchange Programme, how we will have more Kwarans to study in Japan. You know that it is an opportunity for Nigerians but we will want to make Kwara students to be in the forefront".

"Nigeria Ambassador is from Kwara, so we look forward to a more robust relationship between Kwara especially and Japan. Kwara is your home and when you think Nigeria, think Kwara" the Speaker said.

While describing the Ambassador's visit to the State as one of the best things to have happened to Kwara, the highly elated Speaker said it was the first time a Japanesse Ambassador would deem it fit to visit the state and was glad to receive him.

Also speaking, the Nigerian Ambassador to Japan, Professor Mohammed Gana Yisa thanked Kikuta for the visit despite several efforts to discourage him, saying that there was no how as an Ambassador he could know what is happening in other parts of the country while residing only in Abuja.

Yisa stressed that there are lots of potentials abound in several cities across the country which Japan could tap on and thereby improve the strong relationship between Nigeria and Japan.

Responding, the Japanesse Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Yutaka Kikuta said despite the challenges being encountered by the country, he found Nigeria very fascinating.

Kikuta added that in his a month and half stay in Nigeria, he has discovered Nigerians to be very hardworking, charming and very intelligent, saying that Japan would be willing to collaborate with the state.