Today, one of the first meetings on my first day in Abidjan, was the honor to meet with the Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr. Eugene Aka Aouele. A great revelation indeed and certainly a most important person in Africa where lots of our projects and programs are directed towards health and medical sciences. I was happy to introduce some of the geniuses in Japan who have come with some solutions with problems such as Malaria and HIV. It would be up to me to bring these people to Africa but firstly we would develop a strategy to announce, protect and publicize the arrival of such people through our “Health Development Agency”, which is a Marine Foundation agency. 

Dr. Aouele was very receptive to our programs concept and certainly, he did mention he would welcome our efforts to support his ministry. Truly, I felt it would difficult such high-status government person, but realizing this is due to the great dexterity of our President Koura N. Ouattara, and her graceful communication, that everything is made possible, and therefore allowing the Marine Foundation to operate in this marvelous country.  After our meeting the Minister had to fly to Ghana, regretting that the could not attend the next day ceremony at the town hall of Abidjan. Truly it was a warm welcome from His Excellency’s office and I am always touched by the humility and kindness demonstrated to a person like me, a “new kid in the block” might we say, nevertheless, here with a great system planning for good of the country. 

Unforgettable welcome in Abidjan. Thanks to Mrs. Ouattara and His Excellency Governor Siama Bamba.

Of course, I was advised in advance that there would be a reception upon my arrival in Abidjan, but I have never thought in my wildest dreams that it would be as what I have seen. I am so grateful for such a beautiful heart from such beautiful people. Koura N. Ouattara our president in Cote d’Ivoire had thought of everything, and supported by the wonderful Governor of the region, His Excellency Bamba, it made it all so official and really at the level of great diplomacy as seen on presidential welcoming sessions. This was really something.

What was most touching to the heart was the children and their offerings of flowers. Some of them in traditional costumes and others, like the 2 daughters of Koura wearing the cap and shirts with Marine Foundation’s logos on it. There are many people to introduce and most of them in the photos below but I will carefully run through the names as soon as I settle a little more time in making sure I am not making spelling errors.

From the airport, we drove to the “Golf Hotel Abidjan” where I will be staying for 4 nights. Truly it was also the making the President Bamba who gave his unconditional support to Koura. Amazing. Just amazing and therefore I do not have many words to speak except a deep feeling of gratefulness and joy to be present here in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

Of all the Embassies I visited in Tokyo and the residence, this was my favorite encounter. The beautiful welcome of Mrs. Weya, spouse of Ambassador Weya of Cote d’Ivoire in Japan, felt so sincere and real and the fact that she called on His Excellency, to come to the meeting was so revealing to me as an act of heaven. First of all, this was planned just 3 days ago, after my meeting with Yuko Nakagawa who just happened to be best friend with Mrs. Weya. Yuko speaks French fluently and has been a great help to the Cote d’Ivoire embassy in so many needed occasions. On that foundation, I just opened up my heart and told them most of my thoughts on Africa and how Cote d’Ivoire came to be chosen as the headquarters of Marine Foundation Africa. Indeed, our President there, Mrs. Koura N. Ouattara has done amazing work to successfully register the foundation there through its international articles of incorporation (written in great part by Attorney Adama Ndao) and 2 bank accounts for the foundation. To me, it was more than just a meeting, 2 days to my departure to Abidjan but mainly a blessing from Mr. and Mrs. Ambassador that needed to be. Yuko also was able to respond to good sharing and I have also listened to His Excellency’s amazing plans to create viable and durable relations between Japan and Cote d’Ivoire. Mrs. Weya is also the president of the “African Spouse of Ambassadors of Tokyo” and she holds many responsibilities noticeably for the work her association is doing to send funds to support African special causes for children. Marine Foundation, from this day on, will become an important ally, friends, and supporter and that is a commitment that I am gladly appointing the entire organization in Japan to follow up with. The residence was beautifully decorated with art and architectural design of modern days. I felt at home there, not by the beauty of the environment, but mainly by the heartfelt messages of Mrs. and Mr. His Excelency Ambassador Weya. What a sensational afternoon and way to depart to the grand opening of the Marine Foundation Africa in Abidjan. 

In the great preparation for the event on the 20th of February, Marine Foundation’s president Mrs. Koura N. Ouattara meets with the special members of Abidjan’s government and elsewhere. 

On the photo from left to right:
Vice-Governor Mr. Samuel Mobio, Honorable Diomande Mamadou, President Marine Foundation Mrs. Koura N.Ouattara, His Excellency Governor Beugre Mambe, President Siama Bamba, and  President Karamoko Abdel Kader.

Mrs. Ouattara has pioneered the setup for the Marine Foundation Africa for the past 5 years with successfully registering the organization in Abidjan in 2017. 

Yes, it is true, Mr. Shigeru Shiraki will soon become the most influential person of the 21st century since he has discovered the remedy to the most devastating sickness in the world: cancer. This is not a drill or a false alarm, it is the reality as something that would have had to come anyway. Isn’t it the way of our world? Just like electricity or the amazing work of Louis Pasteur, these are reforms that cannot be avoided. Yes, there will be the old establishment that is going to oppose anything that forges a hole in their wallet, but that is indisputably the destiny of mankind to resolve problems whichever they are and technology, the last 100 years, has proven just that. When on the brink of discovery, of the most important issue in health recovery, Shigeru had to go through difficulties only him can really describe. I was fortunate to be introduced by Yuka Kobayashi and Takuya Adachi. After years of hard work he finally succeeded and now on the way to changing the world’s medical platform. I can only share that much today since we will meet again for further discussion, but I can tell you that the future is very bright as nothing can ever stop providential work.

Yuka is an amazing translator as well. She did amazing work with being a perfect coordinator between us while exchanging our stories. She has grace, beauty and delicate attention when it comes to presenting or delivering messages. It was a historical moment and the near future will be here to prove it.

End of the Year Reunion Report – 2018   

It was Just a wonderful time together where several co-brand owners were present (7). There was a great atmosphere of friendship and hope. Everyone so kind and yes mainly because of the beautiful hope we all have to support the betterment of societies through our thoughts and resolutions to individually make the push for projects that can make eventually for a better world.