PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday finally departed Abuja for a high-profile two-nation trip to Japan and Brazil, aimed at deepening Nigeria’s global economic partnerships and attracting strategic investments.
The President’s departure comes a day later than earlier announced.
On Wednesday, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told reporters that Tinubu would leave Abuja on Thursday with a brief stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before heading to Japan.
However, presidential sources revealed that Tinubu spent Thursday attending to pressing state matters, including a closed-door meeting with World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the Presidential Villa.
No official reason was provided for the change of schedule, but multiple aides confirmed that the trip would now span from Friday.
In Japan, Tinubu will participate in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22. The summit will bring together African leaders, Japanese officials, development partners, and business executives to discuss trade, infrastructure, and sustainable growth on the continent.
On the sidelines of the conference, Tinubu is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with top Japanese government officials and meet chief executives of major Japanese corporations with existing or potential investments in Nigeria’s energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
Presidency officials say the trip underscores Tinubu’s strategic push to leverage Japan’s advanced technology and development expertise to boost Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.
Following the TICAD9 summit, Tinubu will fly to Brasilia, capital of the Federative Republic of Brazil, for a two-day state visit from August 24 to 25 at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
While in Brazil, Tinubu will hold official talks with President Lula aimed at expanding Nigeria–Brazil bilateral relations in trade, agriculture, and energy.
He will also participate in a business forum with leading Brazilian investors.
The presidency hopes the visit will help reinvigorate Nigeria’s long-standing diplomatic and trade ties with Brazil, Africa’s largest trade partner in South America.
Tinubu is accompanied by a delegation of ministers, senior aides, and economic advisers tasked with securing agreements and exploring new partnerships in technology, manufacturing, and infrastructure development.