By Nehru Odeh
Prof. Adedoyin Aguoru is an intellectual with a difference. She is not just a scholar dedicated to academic excellence; she puts her intellectual ideas into practice, thus not only bridging the gap between town and gown but also fostering bilateral relations between Japan and Africa.
Aside from her intellectual acumen, which has earned her a professorship at the University of Ibadan, where she teaches English, she has, for the past six years, among many achievements, promoted Japanese studies in Africa as well as mutual understanding between Japan and Africa through the African Association for Japanese Studies (AAJS), which she founded in 2019. She is the current president of the association.
It is in light of these and her many other achievements that the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria conferred the Ambassador’s Commendation Award on Aguoru, who is also the Director, Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of Ibadan.
In a letter signed by Suzuki Hideo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Aguoru was given the award for her “exceptional and unwavering contributions to promoting Japanese Studies in Africa and fostering mutual understanding between Japan and the African continent.”
Aguoru was presented with the award at the 6th Annual International Conference on Japanese Studies on 7 October 2025 at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan. The conference, which was organized by the African Association for Japanese Studies (AAJS), was held between 7 and 9 October 2025. Leadway Assurance and Suzuki CFAO, Lagos, offered sponsorship support.
The theme of the conference was “Japan-Africa Relations: New Horizons and Challenges.” Aside from the opening ceremony, there was also the Ambassador’s Commendation Dinner, during which the award was presented to the honoree.
It was three days of intellectual discourse, with plenary sessions held throughout, the fostering of bilateral relations between Japan and Africa, the opening of educational opportunities for students, and youth empowerment.
The string of Japanese music playing in the background gave the atmosphere a cultural feel and hinted at the seriousness of the members of AAJS in strengthening relations between Japan and Africa.
Principal officers of the University of Ibadan who graced the event with their distinguished presence included Prof. Peter Olapegba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration); Prof. Juwon Arotiba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic); Mr. Ganiyu Oke Saliu, Registrar, University of Ibadan; and Dr. Mercy Iroaganachi, the University Librarian.
Prof. Olayinka Idowu, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, represented Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu. Prof. Jide Owoeye, Proprietor and Chairman, Council of Lead City University, and Prof. Aderonke Baiyeroju, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), University of Ibadan, were also at the event.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Adedayo Omotunde, presented his paper titled “The Strategic Leap: Applying Japan’s AI Playbook to Nigerian Productivity” virtually.
Another notable highlight of the event was the inauguration of the AAJS Students Club, founded in 2025, which is a testament to Aguoru’s commitment to nurturing future generations of scholars and researchers.
There was also an exhibition of Japanese collections facilitated by Aguoru through The Japan Foundation’s Read Japan Project at Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan.
In her acceptance speech, Aguoru expressed her appreciation to the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria for honouring her with the award. “Your Excellency’s appreciation means a great deal to me, and I am grateful for the acknowledgment of my work,” she noted.
“This award is not just a personal achievement but also a testament to the hard work and dedication of the AAJS team, our partners, and the University of Ibadan community. I am proud to bring this award home to Nigeria, to the University of Ibadan, and to Oyo State, the intellectual capital of Nigeria, as the first recipient of this award in Africa,” Aguoru said.
The university don also expressed her appreciation to the management of the University of Ibadan, particularly the immediate past Vice-Chancellor and the current Vice-Chancellor, for their kind support and encouragement. “Your leadership has been instrumental in fostering an environment that promotes academic excellence and innovation.
“I also wish to acknowledge the support of Lead City University, particularly the proprietor and chairman of the Council of Lead City University, Prof. Jide Owoeye, who was my lecturer and supervisor in the Master’s in International Relations programme at Obafemi Awolowo University and who introduced me to Japan through his seminal book, Japan’s Policy in Africa.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to host two of our conferences at Lead City University at no cost at all to the association. LCU has enabled us to strengthen the AAJS platform,” Aguoru maintained.
However, in his speech, His Excellency Suzuki Hideo, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, who was represented by the Deputy Head of Mission, Shin Honda, said the Embassy of Japan has followed the works of AAJS with growing admiration.
“In just a few short years, the association has emerged as a leading hub for academic dialogue and cultural understanding in interdisciplinary scholarship linking Japan and Africa. To us in the Embassy, the AAJS is both a scholarly organization and an important bridge between Africa and Japan.”
The Ambassador also said the Embassy of Japan has been proud to support AAJS activities in the past and continues to view the association as a key partner in strengthening Japan-Africa cooperation. “In particular, we highly respect your effort to create African-led narratives on Japanese culture, society, history, and policy—not shaped by external perspectives but by the lived experiences and intellectual contributions of African scholars and institutions.”
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. K.O. Adebowale, congratulated Aguoru on receiving the prestigious Ambassador’s Commendation Award. “This recognition is a testament to her outstanding contributions to promoting Japanese Studies in Africa. Her dedication and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the association and fostering stronger ties between Japan and Africa,” Adebowale said.
The Vice-Chancellor also spoke on the theme of this year’s conference and the uniqueness of the papers being presented. “The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Japan-Africa Relations: New Horizons and Challenges,’ is timely and relevant.
“The sub-themes cover a wide range of topics, from humanities and social sciences to economic partnerships and youth empowerment. I am confident that the discussions and presentations will provide valuable insights and recommendations for future collaborations,” he maintained.
Ambassador Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, who chaired the Commendation Award Dinner, paid glowing tribute to the award recipient. “Tonight, we gather to celebrate a remarkable individual, Prof. Adedoyin Aguoru, who has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to promoting Japanese Studies in Africa.
“As the President of the African Association for Japanese Studies, Professor Aguoru has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication. Her achievements are truly impressive.
“Tonight, we celebrate Professor Aguoru’s remarkable achievements, and I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to her. Her dedication to promoting Japanese Studies in Africa has made us all proud—the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and the entire African continent.
“To the members of the African Association for Japanese Studies, I commend you for your tireless efforts. Your work has not gone unnoticed, and I am confident that your continued collaboration will yield even greater achievements,” Awolowo-Dosunmu noted.
In his keynote address titled “The Strategic Leap: Applying Japan’s AI Playbook to Nigerian Productivity,” Dr. Adedayo Omotunde spoke on how Nigeria can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive inclusive national development, using Japan’s Society 5.0 as a blueprint.
“While many nations view AI as a means of either economic or military supremacy, Japan’s approach is fundamentally different. It is not just a strategy; it’s a national philosophy called Society 5.0.
“Japan starts from the simple but profound question: what problem must we solve? For Japan, that problem was undeniable—they have a rapidly aging population and a critically shrinking workforce. So technology was not the goal; it was the answer to those existential social challenges confronting Japan,” Omotunde noted.
According to Omotunde, “We don’t have to start from scratch. We can learn from Japan’s Society 5.0—a human-centered vision where technology and humanity work together to solve real problems.”
Omotunde said the way forward is not to copy Japan’s playbook but to adapt its mindset. “The recent launch of N-ATLaS, Nigeria’s own multilingual LLM, by His Excellency Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, shows how this philosophy can work in practice—a government-led step toward digital inclusion and language preservation. Now is the time to build on that momentum,” Omotunde said.
He gave some recommendations:
- Start with the problem, not the tech.
- Empower government as an enabler—launch an NYSC Digital Corps to deploy STEM graduates on national AI projects.
- Reward private investment—introduce AI Infrastructure Tax Credits to attract corporate funding for R&D and data centers.
- Bet on our youth—equip them with digital skills and build AI tools that reflect our realities and languages.
“Japan’s story shows that national transformation is never accidental—it’s the result of vision, collaboration, and intent. Nigeria is taking its first steps. Now we must build the ecosystem to sustain it,” Omotunde averred.
The high point of the event was when Shin Honda, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, who represented Amb. Suzuki Hideo, presented the Ambassador’s Commendation Award to Aguoru. The award recipient also presented a gift to the Japanese Ambassador.
The photo sessions that followed, as well as the toast spiced up with scintillating Japanese music, signaled the end of a day of intellectual discourse, cultural exchange, and the fostering of bilateral relations between Japan and Nigeria. It also opened a window of educational opportunities for young scholars and researchers. Mr. Segun Orimakinde, Executive Secretary of the African Association for Japanese Studies, gave the vote of thanks
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