The Japanese government on Thursday pledged $2.5 million for relocation of South Sudan’s Upper Nile University to its Malakal campus.
As a result of the December 2013 crisis, Upper Nile University sustained damages to its lecture halls, offices, libraries, dormitories, offices, and other structures in Malakal town.
“We thought it is a very important project to rehabilitate and reactivate the university in Malakal. Therefore, on Monday next week, the minister of higher education, together with a representative from Japan and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Upper Nile University’s vice chancellor will travel to Malakal for the signing ceremony or exchange of notes between the government of Japan and UNDP to kick off the whole project,” said Seiji Okada, Japan’s ambassador to South Sudan.
He said it is vital for Japan to aid South Sudan’s education sector.
“Japan government is willing to support the education sector in South Sudan because the country is still young and people yearn for better education system. 70 years ago, Japan faced a lot of challenges, but its government focused on education,” said Okada.
The minister of Higher Education, Yien Oral Lam said the money would be transferred to UNDP’s account for the project to immediately start.
“Japan government will hand over the project to UNDP for implementation, which will be witnessed by government officials in Malakal and the Ministry of Higher Education,” he said.
Oral said his ministry has been discussing this project with partners for six months and lauded Japan and UNDP for renovating the university.
Meanwhile, UNDP Country Director Kamil Kamaludeen said rebuilding Upper Nile University was another way of creating jobs and other development projects for everyone within the area.
“This project will alleviate the lives of people at the community level, business will boom. If you have numbers, will have market and if you have market, the economy will eventually pick up and thus development and stability of the country,” said Kamaludeen.
On his part, Upper Nile University’s vice-chancellor, Dr. Marial Awou Yol described the renovation of the college as a glimmer of hope for the entire community and students in the region.
“Our students and staff have been suffering in Juba because they lack accommodation,” said Awou.
He assured citizens in Malakal town that peace has returned to country.
Upper Nile University is one of the country’s higher learning institutions.