World Korea Forum Comes to Africa: UoN hosts 26th World Korea Forum for the First Time in Africa
Marking the first time the Forum has been held in Africa, the University of Nairobi hosted the 26th World Korea Forum on August 6th and 7th at the university auditorium. The objective of the forum was to Strengthen Korea-Africa Strategic Partnerships by fostering dialogue on innovation, development, peacebuilding, and future cooperation. This year theme, The Importance of Korea's Public Diplomacy Role in Africa in the Era of Strengthening Europe-Africa Relations, served as a driving force in delivering a powerful message rooted in mutual respect and global responsibility.
Prof. John Mande, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Human Resource and Administration (DVC HR&A) who represented the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi officiated the opening ceremony. Prof. Mande remarked that this was a place where people must leave not as strangers, but as partners in a common hope a hope for a more just, peaceful, and prosperous world. He also reflected on the theme of the forum, emphasizing that it was important to remind the participants that solidarity is not a luxury in the new multipolar world, but a necessity.
While delivering remarks on behalf of the Chief Guest, the Speaker of the National assembly Hon. Moses Wetangula, was Hon. Peter George Kaluma, Member of Parliament of Homa Bay town. Hon Kaluma acknowledged the historicity of the forum, which was in Africa, by observing that, “Africa is no longer a passive witness but an active agent in shaping its own destiny in a changing multi-polar world.” He promoted the strengthening of the relationship between the Koreans and Africans based on equality, and chances, and development of both.
Prof. Maria Nzomo., a renowned scholar and diplomat, made an inspiring keynote speech with an emphasis on self-reliance and inclusive development. In response to this, she replied pertaining to the topic of capacity Inner capacity is what we construct, “Capacity is built from within; history teaches us that nations rise when they place people at the heart of development—just as Korea did." Prof. Nzomo summed up her presentation by stating that Africa has a strategic potential in the face of the global changes underway and it is in the interest of the continent to ensure that its role in the international relations is no longer peripheral but central and deliberate. “From fragility to global influence. It is possible to change Africa from a battle ground of personal interests to a shaper of global policy. The time to find African solutions for African problems is now."
The impressive speech of Prof. Dr. PLO Lumumba raised awareness of the world power relations. He clearly stated that ”A united Korea without America's basis, a united Africa without America's basis will have clarity in terms of engagement “ His message was both a wake-up call and a call to action, challenging the two regions to rethink their future. He urged them to move beyond dependence on the outside world toward collective, self-sufficient progress and stronger South–South cooperation.
Hon. Nelson Koech, Member of Parliament, Belgut Constituency and Chair of Parliamentary Committee, Parliamentary Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations sub-committee member, took the floor, on behalf of Hon. Kimani Ichungwa (Majority Leader, Kenya National Assembly). Relations between Kenya and Korea are not strictly diplomatic, but are very human in nature, he said. Hon. Koech highlighted the traditional friendship and people to people relations which is the strength of Kenya-Korea relations. He demanded increased cooperation between the two countries at the parliamentary level and promoted cooperation between the two countries in promoting peace, trade, and technological development.
Day two of the 26th World Korea forum kicked off, shifting alliances and positioning of Africa. Ms. Jae-jung Lee, the Korean National Assembly speaker who talked about the changing aspects of giving aid and international cooperation, opened the first panel of the morning. She cited that “USAID has cut its funding to developing nations very drastically and this was justified by Donald Trump former U.S President who said that America needed to focus on home issues.” On the contrary, Ms. Lee confirmed a position that Korea is prepared to fill the gap and Seoul is willing to cooperate with African countries based on mutual assistance and development-oriented cooperation.
Incorporating the African point of view, Ambassador Johnson Weru, CBS, and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Kenya that deals with Economic Diplomacy, said that Africa presents the best prospects in the global green economy and rebalancing the global trade flows. He cited to the fact that Africa has over 30 percent of the mineral assets of the world including strategic minerals, such as cobalt and platinum, and 65 percent of its agricultural land is not under development currently, thus making Africa a major contributor in future food security and sustainable industrialization.
Dr. Mumo Nzau provided the next important topic of the day: the necessity and potential of smart cities in Africa, and a special window of opportunity presented by rapid urbanization amidst the tech-savvy generation of youth across Africa. He started with a portrait of the urban shift within Africa- growing cities with increased pressure on infrastructure. This, he stressed, is what makes implementation of smart data-driven solutions not only optimal but expedient. Following the history of the smart city concept across the globe, Dr. Nzau cited some of the landmark projects that have been started like Songdo in South Korea (launched in 2009), Masdar City in the UAE (launched in 2006), and Singapore Smart Nation program (2014) that have taken people to different regions of the world. He determined the essential features of the prosperous smart cities: strong digital infrastructure, combined governance supported by real-time data, effective citizen services, new-generation mobility and high attention to environmental sustainability and resilience.
Then the discussion became about Russia Korea Relations when Dr Viktoria Samsonova, the Head of the Center of the Korean Studies, Institute of China and contemporary Asia, Russian Academy of Sciences, discussed on, Russia and the Republic of Korea: The Way to Rehabilitation of Economic Partnership. Dr. Samsonova posed the question of revisiting the historical partnerships between the two countries especially in matters of trade, energy, and industrial buildup where in recent years the aspect of geopolitical tensions and political alliances had had a major blowback.
Dr. Jack Odhiambo Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences officially ended the Forum. He began by expressing his heartfelt gratitude for the strong collaboration between Africa and Korea, and for the honour of bringing the first-ever World Korea Forum in Africa to Kenya—specifically to the University of Nairobi. Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, he extended a warm thank you to all participants and warmly welcomed them to return in the future.
