Japan is hosting Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and other African leaders at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), which began on August 20, 2025, at Pacifico Yokohama. The three-day summit, co-hosted by the Japanese government, United Nations, UNDP, World Bank, and African Union Commission, aims to address Africa’s debt crisis and foster economic partnerships under the theme “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa.” Tinubu, arriving in Tokyo on August 19, as confirmed by his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga via X, is set to pitch Nigeria as a prime investment destination to Japanese business leaders, while holding bilateral meetings with global executives. Other attendees include South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenya’s William Ruto, and UN head Antonio Guterres.
The conference comes as Africa grapples with a worsening debt and liquidity crisis, exacerbated by China’s reduced lending under its Belt and Road initiative and Western aid cuts, notably through the dismantling of USAID, as noted by the Lowy Institute. South Africa’s presidency highlighted the crisis, stating, “It’s constraining governments’ ability to provide safety nets for citizens.” Japan, positioning itself as a trusted alternative to China, plans to pledge training for 30,000 African AI experts over three years to boost industrial digitalization. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized leveraging Africa’s young population and resources for mutual growth, saying, “We will discuss how to connect these to Japan’s prosperity and the world’s.”
