Students

The year 2019 was my best, once in my life time. It gives me great pleasure in expressing my feeling following the scholarship awarded to me by the World Bank with JJ/WBGSP at the Graduate School of International Social Sciences (specialized in Economics), Yokohama National University (YNU) which the first semester started from October.

My name is Abraham Eyasu Regea. I am from Ethiopia.

I am very fortunate to study Public Policy and Taxation here in Japan. I am very proud and will treasure it throughout my life time in sharing life experience with the people of Japan. I also believe that Japan can serve the world as research center for innovation yet to come.

To tell you the truth, life in Japan is not an easy task by oneself and I am very lucky to be a part of it. I have no words to express my feeling for YNU community, National Tax Agency, National Tax College, the World Bank, Mitsui V-Net Volunteers, Ooka Administration and a whole people of Japan who are always ready to serve any one. You all are always in my life, throughout my life time and forever. You have placed a corner stone in my mind and it is making me stronger and stronger.

Finally, let me gift this memory to my beloved son named Beka Abraham Eyasu for his first year birthday celebration on Nov 5, 2019.

Long live Japan

Gratefully with my few years of working as a staff of Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service and having gotten to the managerial level, I felt the need to broaden my knowledge of Taxation, gain international experience and familiarize myself with different cultures and style of Taxation outside Nigeria.

I can frankly say that my dream is now being realised by being part of this Public Policy and Taxation Program at Yokohama National University, Japan; National Tax Agency of Japan through the wonderful support of the World Bank and Japanese Government. I will forever remain grateful and thankful to JJ/WBGSP for this life time opportunity bestowed on me. My horizon is now being continuously widened by learning from world-renowned Professors and Instructors as well as the Superb Management and Staff of the MPE Office and of course interacting with top students from around the World.

I have no regrets for choosing Yokohama National University, I have no regrets for choosing Japan and I have no regrets for being part of National Tax College as everything here is so far helping me to achieve my Life Goals. It has only been a few months out of two years to live and study in Japan and I am already loaded with quality stuff.

Thank You So Much! Arigato Gozaimasu!

I am honored and privileged to be one of the 2019 recipients of the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP). With this scholarship program, my dream to pursue Master’s Program for my career growth has become a reality! I really treasure the joint support from the Government of Japan and World Bank for the generous support they offer to the developing countries.

Regarding my working experience, I have been working with Rwanda Revenue Authority serving in different capacities as an Auditor, Senior Auditor, and Principal Revenue Officer in out station office from the Northern Region of Rwanda as well as Executive Assistant in charge of Domestic Taxes. With this working experience, I had a dream to enhance my professional skills; the JJ/WBGSP has made my aspirations realistic.

I am really enjoying my stay in Japan; it’s my first time to be away from my home country for a long period but have taken Japan as my second home. The Japanese system is very organized, we live life from experience and learning. There’s a lot to study from the Japanese society, discipline and work spirit is amazing! Special thanks to the MPE staff, teaching staff from both Yokohama National University and National Tax Agency for the valuable and continued academic support. From taxation perspective the program of Public Policy and Taxation is well designed, introducing theoretical and having practical experience of National Japanese taxation system from National Tax College with experienced cohort members is equally appreciated.

On special note, I would like to thank the Government of Japan, the World Bank for the financial support offered to me, I wish to thank the top management of my institution as well as my country that always support capacity building and human resource development.

A sound public finance and dependable taxation system is the anchor for economic development of any country, the absence of which hinders economic development.

It was all joy to hear of my selection to the Master of Public Policy and Taxation Program with an M.A. in Economics at the Yokohama National University and the National Tax College (NTC) through the JJWBGSP. It was a fantastic birthday package for me as I received the news about my selection a day to my birthday celebration.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Statistics, Master of Science (MSc) in Industrial Finance and Investment, and a professional certificate in Tax Accounting. I have been working as a Statistician in the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the past twelve (12) years and I have spent considerable amount of time analyzing tax data, examining factors that affect revenue collection in order to inform policy interventions and tax collection strategies, appraising tax returns from taxpayers and examining the performance of various sectors of the economy. While I have contributed immensely to the work of the GRA as a Statistician, I developed an interest in becoming a tax policy analyst in order to effectively evaluate policies, and recommend strategies that will optimize taxation in my country.

I am very grateful to the World Bank, the Government of Japan and the Ghana Revenue Authority for the opportunity offered me to build on the skills I need to analyze tax policies, formulate effective policies and programs and develop a reliable tax administration system in Ghana.

It is indeed refreshing to study in the rich educational environment of YNU’s tree-filled campus on a quiet hill comfortably distanced from the urban bay area of Yokohama City. I appreciate the passion and the vast experience of the Professors of YNU and NTC. I also appreciate the courtesy, kindness, cooperation and support of the MPE staff. My expectations are being met day after day.

Long Live JJ/WBGSP! Long Live YNU!! Long Live NTC!!! Long Live GRA!!!!

Dōmo Arigatō Gozaimasu (どうもありがとうございます。)