Tinubu lands in Tokyo as Africa’s future takes centre stage at TICAD9

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Bola Tinubu touched down in Tokyo, Japan, for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), where he will join fellow African leaders, global development partners, and key stakeholders in discussions on Africa’s growth and stability.

The summit, scheduled for August 20–22 at the Pacifico Yokohama, will centre on the theme “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa.”

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga in a statement, said deliberations would explore strategies for accelerating Africa’s economic transformation, strengthening institutional frameworks, and improving the business climate through innovation and private-sector investment.

He said the conference would also emphasise resilience, human security, and sustainable peace across the continent.

President Tinubu’s aircraft landed at Haneda International Airport at 12:50 a.m. local time, where he was received at the Presidential Wing by Ambassador Hideo Matsubara, Japan’s envoy for TICAD at Haneda, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, and officials of the Nigerian Embassy.

Established by the Japanese government and co-hosted with the United Nations, UNDP, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank, TICAD is held every three years, alternating between Japan and Africa. Tunisia last hosted the event in 2022.

While in Japan, President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral talks with world leaders and engage in high-level meetings with Japanese chief executives who have ongoing or prospective investments in Nigeria.