In 2016 Japan provided $16.8 billion as ODA to countries around the world, making it the world's fourth largest ODA donor following the United States ($35.1 billion), Germany ($26.8 billion), and the United Kingdom ($18.2 billion). As previously mentioned, Japan has also provided Egypt with a huge amount of ODA and the funds are spent on high profile projects such as the construction of the Cairo Opera House. There is no disputing that the Egyptian government wants to continue receiving Japanese ODA. Under these circumstances, the Egyptian government would not want to upset anyone by denying the words of Koike who claims to be a Cairo University graduate.
![](https://jbpress.ismcdn.jp/mwimgs/1/9/600mw/img_1987e05e8caff6f6d54c964b1b8d752d204358.jpg)
More to the point, Cairo University is both a university and a state institution that faithfully implements the government's intentions.
A university controlled by the government
Historically, it was President Nasser who brought Cairo University under the complete control of the state, i.e. the military. This was to remove the Muslim Brotherhood as well as professors and students within Cairo University who oppose the military dictatorship and advocate a shift to civilian control and the establishment of a more Islamic government.
In 1954 both the President and the Deputy President of Cairo University were dismissed. Professors and lecturers who were regarded anti-Nasser were also dismissed and clerical staff were fired if they criticized the government in the slightest.
The author of the biography of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who studied at Cairo University's Faculty of Law from 1962 to 1963, says "At Cairo University, students and lecturers who expressed political opinions were immediately thrown into jail" (source; “Cairo University-Chaos of Conflict and Peace" written by Yoshihiro Asakawa).
During Sadat's Presidency (1970-81) secret police were sent to Cairo University to crack down on opposition to the government's pro-American and pro-Israel policies and the war. There were also clamp downs on Islamic fundamentalists, Nasserism, leftist groups, liberal intellectuals, and remnants of the Wafd Party (a nationalist party during the monarchy that dissolved in 1953). Hundreds of students were arrested for demonstrating against the war.