President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Japan for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), taking place from August 20 to 22 in Yokohama.
The presidential jet touched down at the Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, at 12:50 am local time on Tuesday (still Monday night in Nigeria due to the eight-hour time difference). He was received by Ambassador Hideo Matsubara, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and officials of the Nigerian Embassy.
Tinubu departed Abuja on Friday, August 15, with senior government officials, ministers, and advisers. His trip included a brief stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before heading to Tokyo.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the President will attend plenary sessions, hold bilateral meetings, and engage Japanese chief executives with investments in Nigeria. TICAD9, themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa,” will deliberate on economic transformation, private investment, innovation, and building a resilient and sustainable African society anchored on peace and security.
The triennial conference, launched by Japan and co-hosted by the United Nations, UNDP, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank, alternates between Africa and Japan. Tunisia hosted the last edition in 2022.
Onanuga also disclosed that following TICAD9, President Tinubu will proceed to Brasilia, Brazil, for a two-day state visit from August 24 to 25 at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. While in Brazil, Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral talks and attend a business forum with top Brazilian investors.
