President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Japan ahead of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), which begins Wednesday in Yokohama.
The President’s aircraft touched down at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo at about 12:55am local time on Tuesday, where he was received by Ambassador Hideo Matsubara, Japan’s Ambassador in Charge of TICAD, alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
TICAD9, running from August 20 to 22 under the theme “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa”, will focus on driving Africa’s economic transformation through private investment, innovation, and stronger institutional frameworks.
During the summit, President Tinubu is expected to attend high-level plenary sessions, hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, and engage Japanese business executives, particularly those with current or prospective investments in Nigeria.
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Established in 1993 by the Government of Japan, TICAD is co-organised with the United Nations, the UN Development Programme, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank. The summit is held every three years, alternating between Japan and African host countries. The last edition, TICAD8, took place in Tunisia in 2022.
Following the conclusion of TICAD9, President Tinubu will proceed to Brazil for a state visit from August 24 to 25 at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His visit will include bilateral talks, participation in the Nigeria–Brazil Business Forum, and the signing of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between both nations.