By CHINENYE OFFOR

The Japanese government has identified a Nigerian, Prof . Chukwuma Ogbonna, as therecipient of a national honour.

The award will be bestowed on Ogbonna atthe forthcoming2024 Spring Conferment of Decorations on foreign nationals.

This is contained in a statement byembassy of Japan on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports thatOgbonna, a professor of microbiology, and a former Deputy Vice Chancellor at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is one of the recipients to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.

According to the embassy, the conferment is in recognition of his contributions to promoting academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and Nigeria in the field of agriculture.

He will also receive the conferment forhis contribution in Inter-University Exchange.

Also in bringing agreements as Coordinator of Academic Cooperation, through which hespearheaded agreements between several universities, including the University of Nigeria, with Hokkaido, Tsukuba, and Osaka universities.

This facilitated student exchange programs and research collaborations, it said.

The embassy said that in promoting human exchange, Ogbonna actively facilitated the exchange of students and researchers between the two countries.

His contributions gave 55 Nigerian students the opportunity to study in Japan andseveral Japanese researchers conducting research in Nigeria, particularly in the field of agriculture.

His work established a valuable network of contacts between academics in both countries, paving the way for further collaboration and exchange in the future.

Overall, Ogbonnas dedication has significantly enhanced academic exchange between the two countries , it said. (NAN)