CAPTION: Mrs Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s charge d’affaires and Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu with the certificate that designates Kisarazu Nigeria’s hometown
- By Bolaji Ogundele, Yokohama
In a landmark gesture of cultural diplomacy and workforce cooperation, the government of Japan has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country.
According to a statement on Friday by the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the announcement was made on Thursday on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9).
The new partnership, unveiled during TICAD9 deliberations, includes the creation of a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians seeking to relocate to Kisarazu.
Nigerian artisans and other blue-collar workers prepared to upgrade their skills will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan’s industrial and service sectors.
The arrangement, facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), also saw three other African countries matched with Japanese cities.
Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture was named the hometown for Tanzanians, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghanaians, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambicans.
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside Yoshikuni Watanabe, Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate from the Japanese government formally designating the city as Nigeria’s base in Japan.
According to officials, the initiative is aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties while fostering manpower development that would add value to economic growth in Japan and the partner African countries.
Local authorities in Kisarazu also hope that the designation will help boost the city’s population, advancing regional revitalisation efforts.
Kisarazu already shares a history with Nigeria, having hosted the country’s Olympic contingent for its pre-games training camps and acclimatisation ahead of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The city provided a supportive base for Nigerian athletes before they moved into the Olympic village.
In his opening address at TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced $5.5 billion in new investment for Africa and underscored the importance of mutual understanding in fostering lasting partnerships.
He outlined Japan’s priorities for Africa’s growth, highlighting private sector-led sustainable development, youth and women empowerment, as well as regional integration.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at TICAD9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women, and regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa,” Ishiba said.
The Prime Minister also linked the partnership to Japan’s own demographic challenges, including its ageing population and shrinking agricultural land, calling on African nations to collaborate in addressing these issues while deepening bilateral and multilateral relations.
With the new designation, Nigeria and Japan are set to chart a fresh course in cultural and economic cooperation, one that local authorities and stakeholders believe will strengthen ties and create opportunities for both nations in the years ahead.
