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TM-School appoints internationally acclaimed academic

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In September 2024, Unisa appointed Prof Mieko Ikegame as a visiting professor, to be based at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs. She will participate in the university’s intellectual endeavours relating to Africa’s international relations.

Prof%20Mieko%20Ikegame

Prof Mieko Ikegame

Ikegame has an academic background in business administration, political science and anthropology from Tokyo Women’s University, Simon Fraser University in Canada, and the Graduate School of Stockholm University in Sweden.  

She is one of the first Japanese women to be employed by the United Nations (UN) and served in the UN system for 33 years, including its Secretariat, its Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and the World Food Programme.

Her work in the UN system focused on partnership building with bilateral donors, UN agencies, international and regional financial institutions, and private foundations and companies to mobilise international support for the continent.  

During her time at the UN, she was the focal point for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and played a catalytic role in strengthening multi-lateral processes of TICAD. 

More recently, she joined the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) as a special adviser to the CEO. In 2023, she was appointed as a special envoy of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.

She also holds various positions with Japanese companies and private sector associations in enhancing trade and investment in Africa. 

Unisa is proud of Prof Ikegame’s achievements and celebrates her service to Africa. On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Unisans welcome her as a distinguished member of the university family and look forward to her engagements with students and staff in the quest for Africa’s renewal.

* By Prof Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Professor in International and Diplomacy Studies at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, Unisa

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Publish date: 2024/10/10

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