Abuja: President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Thursday, August 14, for a two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil.
According to Voice of Nigeria, a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, indicated that the President will make a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to Japan. In Japan, President Tinubu will attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22.
The conference, with the theme ‘Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa,’ will address Africa’s economic transformation and improvements in the business environment and institutions through private investment and innovation. It aims to promote a resilient and sustainable African society for human security, peace, and stability.
The statement highlighted that the Nigerian President will not only attend plenary sessions but also engage in bilateral meetings and connect with the chief executive officers of Japanese companies with investments in Nigeria. Initiated by the Japanese government in 1993 and co-hosted by the United Nations, UNDP, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank, TICAD is a triennial event fostering policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners. The last conference was held in Tunisia in August 2022.
Following the conclusion of TICAD9, President Tinubu will travel to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, for a two-day state visit from Sunday, August 24, to Monday, August 25, upon the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. During his visit to Brazil, President Tinubu will hold a bilateral meeting with his host and participate in a business forum with Brazilian investors.
The statement also mentioned that President Tinubu’s delegation, comprising key ministers and senior officials, will explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation and sign agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Brazilian government.