President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday departed Abuja for official visits to Japan and Brazil, with a brief stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The visit is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economic ties and attracting new investment opportunities.
The President’s aircraft took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 11:15 a.m., with senior government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Minister of Finance Wale Edun, on hand to bid him farewell.
According to Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will first attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20 to 22. The conference, themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa”, will focus on accelerating Africa’s economic growth through private investment, innovation, and stronger institutions.
While in Japan, the President will participate in plenary sessions, hold bilateral talks with world leaders, and meet Japanese business executives, including companies with existing or potential investments in Nigeria. TICAD, which began in 1993, is co-hosted by the Japanese government, the United Nations, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank. The last edition took place in Tunisia in 2022.
From Japan, President Tinubu will proceed to Brazil for a state visit from August 24 to 25 at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His engagements will include bilateral discussions, participation in the Nigeria–Brazil Business Forum, and the signing of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding to deepen economic cooperation between the two nations.
The President is accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers and senior aides, who will join him in exploring new trade and investment opportunities in both countries. The visits are part of his administration’s broader effort to boost Nigeria’s economic partnerships and strengthen diplomatic relations on the global stage.
