KOICA 교육받은 자 동창회에서
Ladies and gentlemen!
It is indeed my great pleasure to make congratulatory remarks at this historical 1st meeting of the KOICA Alumni Association in Nigeria.
I sincerely congratulate the formation and launching of the KOICA Alumni Association consisted of very promising men and women like all of you. It was long overdue. I heard the plan many times since I came here. Today is the Day.
I promise that you are very lucky to be a member of this KOICA Alumni. That’s because Korea is the most suitable true development partner to Nigeria as I always emphasize. I bet you will be the most important catalysts in the development trajectory of Nigeria.
Why true partner? As you well know, Korea is the only country in the world which has transformed itself from an aid recipient country to a doner country. Korea was able to achieve both industrialization and democratization in only a single generation. Therefore, Korea is ready to share its development experience with other developing countries.
This year Korea successfully hosted the G20 Summit, the premier economic forum in the world. one of the results was the endorsement of Seoul Development Consensus for Shared Growth and its Multi-Year Action Plan on Development. That fact of hosting itself can inspire you to achieve Nigerian Vision 20:2020, I believe. God bless you.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Looking back to the short history of Korea’s aid to Africa including Nigeria, Korea’s Initiative for Africa’s Development was announced during former Korean President’s state visit to Nigeria in March 2006. The main point was that Korea will triple the amount of ODA for African countries by 2008 compared to 2005 and invite 1000 trainees from 2006 to 2008.
Actually the result of training was the double of that the pledged 1000 figure.
Meanwhile, KOICA Office in Nigeria was established in 2007. Thanks to KOICA Office since then, Korean Government’s grant aid to Nigeria has been steadily increased particularly with the rapid increase of training recipients like you.
Korea again in 2009, during the Second Korea-Africa Forum in Seoul, made a commitment to double its official development assistance flow to Africa by 2012 compared to 2008.
Again, particular focus will be on sharing development experiences and knowledge in order to develop human resources.
Likewise, Nigerian officials and experts would be given more opportunities to participate in KOICA’s training programs every year.
That means what?
Your Alumni Association will recruit more people every year. This is certainly a prospering organization. I congratulate you for that also.
In addition, I believe your prospering Association will be good not only for yourselves but also for the bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Korea since you have effective networks. I believe KOICA will help you organize this kind of meeting in the future.
In closing, once again, I would like to sincerely congratulate the launching of KOICA Alumni Association in Nigeria and appreciate you for your cooperation extended to our Embassy and KOICA Office.
Thank you