Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Tokyo for the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), emphasizing that the summit offers an opportunity to deepen economic cooperation with Japan and attract private investment to Nigeria.

“Nigeria is open for business and ready for partnership,” Tinubu declared upon arrival at Haneda Airport, where he was welcomed by Hideo Matsubara, Japan’s ambassador in charge of TICAD. This marks Tinubu’s first official visit to Japan since assuming office in May 2023. The trip is part of a broader diplomatic tour that includes Brazil and a stopover in Dubai.

Summit Highlights and Agenda

The TICAD summit, running until 22 August in Yokohama, brings together African heads of state, Japanese officials, development partners, and business leaders. The theme for this edition—“Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa”—focuses on private sector investment, economic transformation, and institutional growth.

President Tinubu said he would use the platform to position Nigeria as a prime investment destination on the continent. “Our engagement will focus on technology, innovation, human capital, and opportunities that create jobs for our people,” he added.

Japan has hosted TICAD since 1993 in collaboration with the United Nations, the World Bank, and the African Union. Tokyo officials noted that Nigeria’s participation reinforces the strategic ties between both nations.

Criticism Over Venue and Perception

Back home, reactions on social media were divided. While some Nigerians welcomed the president’s attendance, others criticized the choice of venue, arguing that an African development summit should ideally hold in Africa.

“Why is an International Conference on African Development hosted in Asia and not Africa, and our leaders don’t see it as an anomaly yet?” wrote @SbrMusa Hags Onomza on X.

User @yahayakanam (Gee_kay) also raised concerns about the protocol level: “I find it disappointing that they sent only an ambassador, not even the foreign minister. Don’t get me wrong, as a head of state, we surely deserved more respect.”

Support and Counterarguments

Some commentators defended the trip. Dr. Dahiru Bobo posted: “Great to hear that President Tinubu has safely arrived in Tokyo for TICAD. Looking forward to updates on the summit.”

Others focused on cost and optics, questioning the expenditure and logistics. User @Defiwhizkid remarked: “Tinubu’s turning his August into a world tour—Japan for TICAD9, Brazil for state talks, with a Dubai pit stop. Let’s hope he brings back more investors than photo ops.”

Expectations vs. Reality

The core question for many Nigerians remains whether the high-profile visit will translate into tangible economic gains rather than symbolic diplomacy. Tinubu’s challenge will be proving that these trips yield real investments and partnerships for Nigeria’s economy.