More than 274 Tanzanians have benefited from Japanese government-supported scholarships to pursue master’s and doctoral studies in Japan, an initiative aimed at building a highly skilled workforce to drive the country’s development agenda.
The programme, facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is designed to equip Tanzanian professionals with advanced knowledge, research skills and international experience that can be applied to address development challenges at home.
JICA Tanzania Chief Representative Dr Kuge Katsuya said continued investment in higher education, science and technology was critical to producing the experts and leaders needed to implement Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050.
He made the remarks during a ceremony in Dar es Salaam to bid farewell to 16 Tanzanians preparing to travel to Japan for further studies and welcome eight beneficiaries who have completed their studies and returned to Tanzania.
“Tanzania needs to continue investing in higher education, science and technology to increase the number of professionals who can contribute to the implementation of the National Development Vision 2050,” Dr Kuge said.
He also highlighted the growing importance of developing leadership capacity in the private sector, noting its expected contribution to economic growth and job creation.
“Tanzania needs more leaders in the private sector because of the role it is expected to play in promoting economic growth and creating employment,” he said.
Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania Yoich Mikami urged returning graduates to translate the knowledge and experience they gained in Japan into practical solutions that benefit their communities and the wider economy.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to use their experiences to strengthen the longstanding ties between Tanzania and Japan.
At the ceremony, Senior Human Resources Officer from the President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance, Margereth Ngondya, urged Tanzanians travelling to Japan to uphold discipline, professionalism and integrity throughout their studies.
She further encouraged them to return to Tanzania and apply their expertise in serving the country.
Among those who have benefited from the programme is Dr Almachius Mutasingwa, a lecturer at the University of Dodoma, whose studies in Japan strengthened his expertise in research on critical and rare minerals.
Dr Mutasingwa undertook the Geozone programme at Kyushu University between 2022 and 2026, conducting research on mineral resources found in Tanzania, including gold, nickel, graphite, tanzanite and diamonds.
He said the experience had given him practical research skills that he intended to share with students and fellow researchers after returning to Tanzania.
“I will use the knowledge and experience I gained in Japan to help students and other researchers acquire practical skills in mineral research,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lucy Michael, an employee of the National Sports Council of Tanzania, is among the latest beneficiaries preparing to travel to Japan to pursue a master’s degree in Global Education.
She said she expected to use the knowledge and experience acquired through the programme to contribute to Tanzania’s development.
The scholarship initiative underscores the growing focus on human capital development and knowledge transfer as Tanzania seeks to strengthen its capacity in science, technology, research and other areas considered essential to achieving its long-term development goals.