“The visit aims to reconnect Nigeria with its diaspora and expand South-South cooperation,” said Bayo Onanuga.
President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to stop over in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before proceeding to Japan, according to a statement issued on August 13, 2025, by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy. In Japan, Tinubu will participate in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), set to take place in Yokohama from August 20 to 22.
Themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa,” TICAD9 will focus on Africa’s economic transformation, improving business environments, and fostering innovation and private investment. The conference also aims to promote a resilient and sustainable African society characterized by human security, peace, and stability.
During the event, President Tinubu is scheduled to attend plenary sessions, engage in bilateral meetings, and interact with CEOs of Japanese companies investing in Nigeria. The president will also meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for bilateral talks and attend a business forum aimed at strengthening Nigeria-Brazil cooperation, including signing agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
Responding to criticisms from the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who claimed it was not the time for a presidential vacation, the presidency emphasized that the visit has significant diplomatic goals. “This visit is deeply rooted in diplomatic imperatives that seek to reconnect Nigeria with its diaspora and expand South-South cooperation,” according to Onanuga.