SUMAS VC Prof. Ogbonna listed among foreign nationals for Japanese govt honour
Asogwa Oluchi V. May 8, 2024
Prof. James Chukwuma Ogbonna, FAS the current Vice-Chancellor of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Igbo-Eno, Enugu State Nigeria has been listed among the foreign nationals to be decorated by the Japanese government.
Ogbonna, Professor of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
According to a statement by the Japanese embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, May 8, the Vice- Chancellor of SUMAS is being recognised for his contributions to promoting academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Nigeria in the field of agriculture.
The statement reads: “On the On 29 April 2024, the Government of Japan announced the 2024 spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals, with Prof James Chukwuma Ogbonna, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria / the former Professor of Microbiology at University of Nigeria, being one of the recipients.
“In recognition of his contributions to promoting academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Nigeria in the field of agriculture, he will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
“Decoration: the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
Service: Contributed to promoting academic exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and Nigeria in the field of agriculture
“Summary of contributions. Inter-University Exchange Agreements: As Coordinator of Academic Cooperation, Prof. James Chukwuma Ogbonna spearheaded agreements between several universities, including the University of Nigeria with Hokkaido University, Tsukuba University, and Osaka University.
“This facilitated student exchange programs and research collaborations.
“Promoting Human Exchange: He actively facilitated the exchange of students and researchers between the two countries. His efforts led to 55 Nigerian students studying in Japan and several Japanese researchers conducting research in Nigeria, particularly in the field of agriculture.
“Building Networks: His work established a valuable network of contacts between academics in both countries, paving the way for further collaboration and exchange in the future.
“Overall, Prof. James Chukwuma Ogbonna’s dedication has significantly enhanced academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Nigeria.”
