My first intuition was to head this treatise “How Not to Help a People” or “How best to Assist a People” but I ended up following other instinct probably because the discourse is about financial muzzle in one hand and begging for arms in another, hence, “POWER and CREATIVE STRATEGY” {apology to Prof. Wole Soyinka}. Japan boasts of being probably the highest donor in terms of charity to developing and under-developed countries. Such benefits are in the areas of structure, education, scholarships, manpower provision, training and splinter offices constructed with the aim of sensitizing the people of what has been done and what is being done.
The country or nations that enjoy these benefits are ever willing to return cap in hands asking for more year on, the psychology of asking, not withstanding. We live in a practical world and therefore it serves no need wondering why such countries cannot sustain themselves in the first place. It serves no purpose to mention corruption as the bane in such societies. It will serve no purpose to state how endemic the issue of corruption has become to the extent that those who peddle it do not care if qualitative education is provided. After all, enlightenment will create awareness and reduce or out rightly, challenge the purse of the corrupters. Therefore, why repeat what has been obvious; fact that has graduated from the margin of secrecy, that is, if there was ever any in such environment thriving on support and charity. Fact on ground is that many countries are lacking in human endowment being enjoyed by others, for instance, basic needs and therefore goes hands in begging. The human endowment, mind you, has its abundance in natural resources. It’s only that…, that…, that…
Japan as stated has positioned itself to assist. What are the benefits if any to Japan? What satisfaction do they derive?
1. Japanese citizens can take a glimpse and see how better they are than those other people from those other countries.
2. Japanese citizens in noticing how other people lives can therefore be eternally grateful and loyal to its government for providing means and materials that those other countries government had failed to make available or can simply not make available and for whatever reason.
3. The super-ego factor; some Japanese getting news of large amount of fund being budgeted and disbursed feels either proud or superior or both., that is, “my car is bigger than yours” mentality, and therefore, I am better than them.
I must add that the above benefits are not exhaustive as other factors may exist but they are a needed psyche in the goblets of the Japanese and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Japan doling out handsome money yearly has been most benevolent, no doubt.
Arguably, an agency like Japan International Cooperation Agency {JICA} covering Africa should be concerned about final disbursement and application in respect of effectiveness and sustenance. Japan need to take an in-depth look on what has been achieved in concrete terms and not just on paper. Japan looking in, will find ways to fashion how best to apply resources, plenty but scarce at this time.
In other words, what initiative can one proffer so that the begging and giving will be more effective? I have discussed this point while meeting with JICA, May 2008 and I mentioned it again on my meeting with staff of International Developing Economies-Japan External Trade Organization {IDE-JETRO}, December 25, 2008. For want of elaboration, I have proffered some suggestions here in respect of assistance to Africa.
1. All INCLUSIVENESS:
The unspoken and unofficial idea that “East Africa is Heaven, West Africa is Hell” should change. Branding a particular area as prone to danger, uninhabitable or rather trouble-some to deal with is highly selective…especially, when the trickles that gets to the West of Africa is hardly effective in terms of benefiting the people such help was originally intended for.
2. EDUCATION:
Many researches are undertaken by government and its agencies. Most times Lecturers are invited to research and speak on different subjects. Where it concerns Africa, Africans should be directly involved with such researches for effectiveness. By Africans being directly involved, they will provide on the ground information that researchers ordinarily could not have known or that could have escaped them. Researches should be conducted both through existing government agencies or bodies and other blocs like organizations that are not directly leaning on government. By getting Africans involved in their affairs and dealing with organizations other than government, balanced and in-depth information will be handy for decision making and implementation.
The issue of education through research cannot be over-emphasized. Suffice it to say that government need to be properly educated in order to serve better who they are assisting and in this subject matter, Africans. Besides, the history of a people, the nuances existing in a SOULFUL place like Africa can best be cracked and understood by Africans. Simply put, Africans should be involved while making researches and lectures or paper points on Africa.
3. INFORMATION:
Japan MOFA {Ministry of Foreign Affairs} has lots to do in terms of information dissemination. MOFA through its agencies and bodies like diplomatic channels should be able to give sound information on Life in Japan. Many times, probably out of need, people from Africa, Nigeria for instance, look at Japan as a place to be, a place to go and settle down. The feeling is that work can easily be found here and life is “bread and butter”. They are more encouraged by Japanese electronics and cars in Africa markets. It is now obvious that they are far from the truth and therefore, it is now important that apart from this wavelength of technology mentality, Africans should be informed about family and social life in Japan, including what can be available on landing; tax systems, business ownerships, stocks and in fact what is permissible and what is not. I stress this because much as many probably will like moving over to Japan, I know a few people who would not have choose Japan had they the information of what is obtainable here. Had they elementary information on the rudiments of life here, I am quite sure that such persons having alternative {which they had} would not have made Japan their choice. In fact, I have met people who refused to come and settle in Japan because of one or more reasons. For instance, they felt that they cannot internalize in Japan social and family system. I also know people who are ready to come and settle no matter whatever negative information they have.
While there is nothing potentially wrong with Japan, my point is that value system and culture differs and some people based on these would have made their choice elsewhere or rather, even remain where they are. MOFA, JICA, etc, should therefore act faster with utmost alacrity in this area. Of course, this, like I mentioned will not stop Africans from coming. While a few people will not arrive to settle, people who want should be made abreast with elementary but important information.
4. INTEGRATION:
In line with information dissemination is integration. Most times, information disseminated on Japan TV or aired by NGO’s/ NPO’s that has visited Africa depicts Africa as not just poor but retarded. Accepted that most of Africa “is at the very nadir of human degradation”, that most of Africa is in the “Ninth world”, accepting that there is nothing wrong in reporting that, it is also right to highlight the good sides of Africa, the cities, the vegetation, the abundant talents and brain and so forth. For one, this fosters better information and pulls people not only along but bonded. Absence of this creates in the minds of Japanese that all of Africa are a people that need sympathy or even pity. It often reflects on immigrants while dealing or relating with their hosts. MOFA and its bodies, for instance, Japan Foundation, JICA, should do its best to change or at least, down-play this stereotype.
Added to integration is the issue of Africans who are already living and legally so in Japan. This has to do with acceptance. In my comments to Asia Leadership Fellow Program Symposium held October 31, 2008 at International House of Japan and hosted by IHJ/ Japan Foundation, I stressed that more than passport and place of birth, acceptance is important to make a people feel part of a nation or have a sense of belonging to a country. Japanese government through its ministries and other human service bodies like Japan Foundation, JICA, NGO’s/ NPO’s and designated government ministries should therefore do its best to identify talented and educated Africans. The idea should be to channel them into fields or discipline they can contribute. More too, initiative should be created so that those with less than qualitative education can go back to school or do some courses or training. This will upgrade their intellect and or worldview. On qualification, there should be ways to manage what has been learned or acquired for productive purposes. While Africans are not the representative of crime in Japan, a few who indulge may choose such opportunity and better themselves. Chances are that some may even return to their home country to impact on what has been learned or acquired.
JICA has already taken the right step in having foreigners take Japanese Language Test if they choose to but this is not enough. Language, important as it is will not replace knowing and understanding where you are, the people, their heartbeat, the mindset and you do not need language to know these; all immigrants need is acceptance embedded with balanced information and germane initiatives that will see them getting involved with better tasks.
5. PUBLICATIONS:
The last but not the least is publications. Researches carried out on Africa often end up being published only in Japanese language. Attempts should be made to print copies in languages other than Japanese only. Africans need to know what is being published about them and need to participate in information sharing. There should be freedom to access information in more than one language. Since information denied is knowledge denied, publications on researches carried out should include English and French, at least.
Patrick Nwadike is a freelance Journalist based in Tokyo.
