Essay winner, Basil Dan receives a prize from His Excellency, the Ambassador of Korea to Kenya, Mr. Chan-Woo Kim.

This was revealed today during the 2012 Essay Competition Prize Giving Ceremony and official opening of the Korean Studies Office at the University of Nairobi (UoN).

The competition which attracted 138 essayists was launched last year through the support of the Academy of Korean Studies and the University of Nairobi. Under the theme ‘My Dream of Kenya-Korea Relations,’ the participants were meant to focus on their personal vision of relations between Kenya and Korea in areas such as culture, development, economy, human and natural resources, peace and technology. These issues were presented by the students as a conversation on a journey into or lessons from the interaction between Kenya and Korea.

During the ceremony, the Korean Studies Office was officially opened by His Excellency, the Ambassador of Korea to Kenya, Mr. Chan-Woo Kim, assisted by Prof. Lucy Irungu, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research Production and Extension. The Ambassador said the office cemented the relationship between the two countries. It provided an opportunity for people interested in Kenya and Korea relations to acquire relevant information and skills. On her part, Prof. Irungu said the establishment of the office concretized the existing that the office will undertake will include the development of a Bachelor of Arts curriculum in Korean Studies, staff capacity building and student participation through the essay competitions.

Others who spoke during the event include Prof. Enos Njeru, Principal, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Preston Chitere, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof. D.H. Kiiru, Research Director, Koren Studies Project, and Prof. Peter Wasamba, Associate Dean.

Caption: UoN students entertain guests during the event.