Tinubu Targets $1Billion Trade, Other Investments at Tokyo Conference 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that Nigeria’s engagement at the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, is driven by a resolute and ambitious agenda: to secure over $1 billion in trade and investment, among other objectives.

The President further emphasized that his delegation, through TICAD9, seeks to hasten green innovation and industrial advancement, broaden opportunities for the youth of Nigeria, and establish the nation as the core and gateway to West Africa’s expansive market.

In a statement on his verified X account, @officialABAT, on Wednesday, President Tinubu highlighted the primary aim of his visit, asserting that Nigeria is not attending TICAD9 as a passive observer, but as a continental leader with a defined vision.

“At #TICAD9, under the theme ‘Co-create innovative solutions with Africa,’ Nigeria arrives with a defined vision. Our participation is intended to unlock over $1 billion in trade and investment, propel green innovation and industrial growth, expand prospects for our youth, and position Nigeria as the heart and gateway to West Africa’s vast market,” the President stated.

The President characterized the summit as a platform for “enduring development and global partnership, rooted in technology, talent, and trust,” emphasizing that Nigeria would take a leading role as Africa charts a course towards prosperity, declaring, “Nigeria will lead, and Africa will rise.”

TICAD9, jointly organized by the Japanese government and international development partners, convenes African leaders, global investors, and multilateral institutions to devise solutions for sustainable economic growth across the continent.

For Nigeria, Tinubu’s declaration signifies a resolute effort to enhance trade relations with Japan, bolster innovation-driven industrialization, and underscore Nigeria’s pivotal role in regional integration.