President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Tokyo, Japan, to participate in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
Presidential spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said the President’s aircraft touched down at the Haneda International Airport at 12:50 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
Tinubu was received at the Presidential Wing of the airport by Amb. Hideo Matsubara, Japan’s representative in charge of Haneda Airport for TICAD, alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, and officials of the Nigerian Embassy.
The high-level summit, holding from August 20 to 22 at the Pacifico Yokohama, will bring together African leaders, development partners, and global stakeholders. It will serve as a platform for Tinubu to strengthen bilateral ties and attract Asian investors to Nigeria.
Initiated by the Japanese government, TICAD is co-hosted by the United Nations, UNDP, African Union Commission, and the World Bank. The triennial conference alternates between Japan and Africa, with Tunisia hosting the last edition.
This year’s summit is themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa” and will focus on driving economic transformation through innovation, private sector investment, and sustainable development rooted in peace and stability.
During the conference, President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral talks and participate in high-profile meetings with chief executives of Japanese companies with investments in Nigeria.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Tinubu’s participation marks his first official visit to Japan since assuming office in May 2023 — a milestone in his foreign diplomacy and a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to deeper strategic collaboration with Japan.
