₦airaland Forum

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIA’S PARTICIPATION AT TICAD 9: FOCUSING ON STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENTS, NOT TRADE EXPOS

The trending social media narrative about an empty booth labelled 'NIGERIA' at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, totally misrepresented our country's mission and activities at the conference.

While we understand the urge by many social media users to seek clicks with many incorrect posts, we also recognise that the author may have acted out of patriotic concern. But it is a concern inspired by ignorance about Nigeria’s mission at the triennial conference.

The Nigerian delegation to the summit, led by President Bola Tinubu, is laser-focused on its core objectives of achieving tangible outcomes from the scheduled lineup of bilateral and multilateral engagements targeted at driving optimum performance in key sectors of the economy, especially in power, industry and agriculture.

The Nigerian official delegation working with Corporate Nigeria, represented by some of our leading business leaders, didn't come to Yokohama and Tokyo to attend any Trade Expo, designed as an open forum for participating nations.

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is scheduled to host an investment forum on Thursday, August 21, 2025

The Nigerian ministers are busy with bilateral sideline discussions. At the same time, President Tinubu will lead meetings with the executives of Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation. The delegation’s schedule does not include participation in an open forum trade exhibition.

Specifically, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is leading the pre-activation meeting to execute several power projects in Nigeria that are being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). One of the projects is the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement, which is designed to improve the wheeling capacity and grid stability and enable the connection of industrial customers on the corridor. There is also the partnership between the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) and JICA to enhance Vocational Training Delivery for the power sector. The third power project is the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-up, for which $190 million has been provided.

The Minister of Power is scheduled to negotiate with notable Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as TOSHIBA and HITACHI.

The Bank of Industry, led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dr. Supo Olusi, is also in high-level discussions with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and other participating multilateral institutions for its annual global fund syndication.

Social media posts are often sensational and do not tell complete stories, just as the trending video does not capture Nigeria's participation at TICAD 9. Our country is fully and well represented and part of the essential conversations and negotiations that are going on at TICAD9.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President,
(Information and Strategy)
August 20, 2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GUWHt18Xh/

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/8502164/ticad9-reactions-trail-nigerias-unmanned

Yeye man with silly excuses 😂

So other nations they were there for strategic engagements yet appeared at their booth were stupid

Bayo Onanuga should always pause before answering. Does it make sense you have exhibition space without manning it. Tell us, they have gone to Tokyo malls to shop.

How can Nigeria call it self a sovereign country when a lot of its actions are being funded by other sovereign countries.you hear Japan funding this,France funding that.

There's a problem somewhere
There's something we aren't being told

I am yet to understand and figure out how this works.

For example ,who is funding Japan?
Who is funding France?
Who is funding China?

They summon African LEADERS every year.

There's something wrong somewhere.

There's something really wrong somewhere

This isn't good at, not a single person there? And when you check alot of money have been spent for people to represent the nation

Lemme hurry and book space first since seun egbegbe is on d loose

Naija, my country.


Not enough original content
Please take a moment to write a quality post with at least 40 characters.
This will make the forum more interesting for everyone.

okpouman:
How can Nigeria call it self a sovereign country when a lot of its actions are being funded by other sovereign countries.you hear Japan funding this,France funding that.

There's a problem somewhere
There's something we aren't being told

I am yet to understand and figure out how this works.

For example ,who is funding Japan?
Who is funding France?
Who is funding China?

They summon African LEADERS every year.

There's something wrong somewhere.

There's something really wrong somewhere

if this countries decides to take something back in return, pan-Africanist will start their narratives and agenda. But when this countries are funding they are silent.

Okay.
Continue sir.

Carry on.

They said I don't have enough original content. Carry on sir. Leave the booth empty.

They're very defensive and always quick to respond

okpouman:
How can Nigeria call it self a sovereign country when a lot of its actions are being funded by other sovereign countries.you hear Japan funding this,France funding that.

There's a problem somewhere
There's something we aren't being told

I am yet to understand and figure out how this works.

For example ,who is funding Japan?
Who is funding France?
Who is funding China?

They summon African LEADERS every year.

There's something wrong somewhere.

There's something really wrong somewhere

African leaders will always require extra funding...who wouldn't need extra funding, after looting and mismanaging available scarce resources?

Maxymilliano:
Yeye man with silly excuses 😂

So other nations they were there for strategic engagements yet appeared at their booth were stupid

And where is your proof? we are strategically preparing for another aspect of the program pls.

They've went for break.Abi they should not go for refreshments ni.

His response no even correspond.

16 more characters needed

If the booth has no essence, why was it set up? Shame don comot for some people's eyes tey tey.

People wey dey happy say they finally enter Japan.


Onanuga is probably busy waiting for peter obi's comment on any social media. So that he can attack him

Aturu

Lies upon inefficiency.
Booths don't require inauguration. They should all open immediately the event doors are open to the public. We have event today but we’re ‘INAUGURATING’ booth tomorrow. Silence would have been golden rather than this statement.
But most of the delegates will collect allowance, travel to Japan and be in the town enjoying, ignoring why they went there in the first place, and then you wonder why Nobody wants to approve visas for Nigerians.

I don tire for naija matter honestly 😂

Wadafvck is this

Una go explain tire, no evidence. They are just out to steal, to destroy nothing more.

Till now, they're still unable to get serious!


When are we gonna end this trial and error Approach of governance?

okpouman:
How can Nigeria call it self a sovereign country when a lot of its actions are being funded by other sovereign countries.you hear Japan funding this,France funding that.

There's a problem somewhere
There's something we aren't being told

I am yet to understand and figure out how this works.

For example ,who is funding Japan?
Who is funding France?
Who is funding China?

They summon African LEADERS every year.

There's something wrong somewhere.

There's something really wrong somewhere

When you people were shouting "foreign investors, foreign investors", didn't you know what it meant?

Always quick to defend their shenanigan attitudes.

These people irritate me.
Seun come and complete the rest, I’m annoyed

My ohh My
How can some persons assume we are that gullible

The quicker they are to react/respond...

The more likely the truth!

Africa wey big pass Japan by how many times but na them de come develop us

okpouman:
How can Nigeria call it self a sovereign country when a lot of its actions are being funded by other sovereign countries.you hear Japan funding this,France funding that.

There's a problem somewhere
There's something we aren't being told

I am yet to understand and figure out how this works.

For example ,who is funding Japan?
Who is funding France?
Who is funding China?

They summon African LEADERS every year.

There's something wrong somewhere.

There's something really wrong somewhere

Because wyte countries make sure African countries have weak currencies and overpaid politicians.

oche2020:
This isn't good at, not a single person there? And when you check alot of money have been spent for people to represent the nation

.

Oboy forget that 2x2 cubicle jor. This is a high powered negotiation conference with world political and corporate leaders in attendance. Is that cubicle enough to display ten bundles of Adire? Stop disgracing Nigeria. That's a kind of cubicle befitting Obi and his people not a whole Nigeria.