The delegation visited the Bank Group’s headquarters in Abidjan under Sophia University’s Learn from Africa overseas study programme.

The group comprised 11 students from different academic disciplines and two faculty members. Representatives from the Jesuit University of Abidjan and Bank Group staff also attended.

The programme gives Japanese students direct exposure to African institutions, communities, development opportunities and challenges.

The AfDB said cooperation between the Bank and Sophia University is governed by a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2019 and renewed in 2025.

AfDB Executive Director for Japan, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Austria and Brazil Tomoki Nakai, said academic partnerships could strengthen knowledge exchange and encourage young people to contribute to sustainable development. “The Bank’s partnership with institutions such as Sophia University helps foster global knowledge exchange, inspire youth in both Africa and Japan to pursue their ambitions, and encourage them to contribute to Africa’s sustainable development,” Nakai said.

Nakai said the partnership could also help nurture the next generation of development leaders.

AfDB Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department Director Dr Martha Phiri said investment in young Africans remained a priority under the Bank Group’s 2024-2033 Ten-Year Strategy. “Young people are at the centre of Africa’s transformation agenda,” Phiri said.

Phiri said the priority was also reflected in AfDB’s strategic focus on harnessing demographic transformation for economic development.

The visit included presentations on human capital, skills development, resource mobilisation, economic governance, financial-sector development, infrastructure, industrialisation and private-sector investment.

Students participated in question-and-answer sessions, engaged AfDB employees and toured the institution’s headquarters.

AfDB and Japan also jointly implement the Japan Africa Dream Scholarship programme, which supports African students pursuing advanced studies at African and Japanese universities.

The programme has awarded scholarships to 46 students. Of those, 32 received full scholarships to attend partner universities in Japan, including five who pursued master’s degrees in Global Environmental Studies at Sophia University.

AfDB and Japan launched the Africa-Asia Platform in 2025 to promote knowledge exchange, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable industrialisation across both continents.

–AfDB/ChannelAfrica–