On 4th of November 2017, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation held the Award Ceremony for 27 students who are sponsored by The Nippon Foundation in the Sasakawa Auditorium at World Maritime University. The Class of 2017 students have now officially joined the global network of WMU Sasakawa Fellows. Total Number of WMU Sasakawa Fellows is now 611, from 72 countries.

Mr. Tsutomu Akita, Senior Specialist of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation delivered the opening remarks. In his speech, Mr. Akita welcomed the distinguished guests that including Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant, United States Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mr Jeff Lantz, Chairman of the IMO Council and WMU Governor, Mr Reinhard Klingen, Director-General, Waterways and Shipping of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Germany, Dr Peter Ehlers, President of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (Ret.) and WMU Governor, Mr Kent Andersson, Chairman of the Malmö City Council and WMU Governor, and Mr Leif Almö, Honorary Consul of Japan. Mr. Akita warmly congratulated the 27 new members of Sasakawa Fellows and reminded them the benefit that obtained from The Nippon Foundation.

Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, WMU President, addressed the gathering and thanked The Nippon Foundation for the continued support to the University since 1987. She stated that The Nippon Foundation funds to date the highest number of fellowships enabling students from a wide range of countries to pursue their studies here at WMU which in turn enables them to return home with expertise and knowledge to help build and strengthen the maritime and ocean sectors of their countries.

Mr. Mitsuyuki Unno, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation addressed the graduating students, congratulating them on the completion of their studies, urging them to put their new knowledge to good use in their careers and presented them each with a certificate. He also delivered to the students "Thank you" in all 23 languages spoken in the students' home countries.

On the next day, at the WMU graduation ceremony on 5th of November, Mr. Yasser Bayoumy A. Farag (Egypt) of Sasakawa Fellow was awarded the Medal of Chancellor for Academic Excellence for the MSc in Maritime Affairs 2017.