Buhari Arrives Japan for Three-day TICAD Conference
President Muhammadu Buhari Monday
arrived Yokohama, Japan where he is billed to participate in the Seventh
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) taking
place in the city from August 28-30, 2019.
The president who arrived at 8pm
Japanese time (12 noon Nigerian time), was ceived at the Tokyo Airport
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Nigerian
Ambassador to Japan, Prof. Mohammed Yisa.
He arrived in company of Lagos and Kwara State governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Abdulrazak Abdulrahman.
The president will be participating in the conference for the second time, having graced TICAD6 which held in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2016.
The president will be participating in the conference for the second time, having graced TICAD6 which held in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2016.
This year’s theme of the conference is
titled, “Africa and Yokohama, Sharing Passion for the Future,” and will
be declared open by the Japanese Prime Minister and host, Shinzo Abe.
A statement issued on Friday by his
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari
would deliver Nigeria’s Statement at the Plenary Session Three of the
conference during which he will also appraise Nigeria-Japan relations
and takeaways from TICAD6.
Adesina also said Buhari would attend a
state banquet and honour the invitation of Emperor Naruhito to a tea
reception at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo.
Furthermore, Adesina said the president
would hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe, attend some
side-events and meet chief executive officers of some Japanese companies
with huge investments in Nigeria.
Adesina then proceeded to explain what
TICAD is all about. “Formed in 1993, the now triennial TICAD, which has
been convened alternately in Japan and Africa since TICAD6, according to
the organisers, is the largest international conference held in Japan
which ‘provides an open forum that generates innovative discussion among
various stakeholders on African development.’
“Participants are drawn not only from
African countries, but also international organisations, private
companies and civil society organisations involved in development.
“TCAD7 is expected to focus on Africa’s
‘economic transformation and improvements in business environment and
institution through private investment and innovation; promotion of
resilient and sustainable African society for human security; and peace
and stability in support of Africa’s domestic proactive efforts,” he
explained.
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