Japan has officially designated the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians who wish to live and work in the country, in a move aimed at strengthening cultural ties, boosting economic cooperation, and addressing workforce needs.
According to a statement released Friday by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the announcement was made on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
Under the new arrangement, Japan will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians seeking opportunities in Kisarazu. Artisans and blue-collar workers willing to upskill will also benefit from the scheme.
At a ceremony, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu’s Mayor, Yoshikuni Watanabe, received the certificate officially declaring the city as Nigeria’s hometown in Japan.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency also extended similar designations to other African nations: Nagai (Tanzania), Sanjo (Ghana), and Imabari (Mozambique). Authorities expect these partnerships to deepen manpower exchanges and contribute to regional revitalization.
Kisarazu previously hosted Nigeria’s contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the team trained before moving to the Olympic village.
In his opening remarks at TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced $5.5 billion in new investments for Africa, stressing the need for locally driven solutions, youth and women empowerment, and stronger regional integration. He also highlighted Japan’s demographic challenges, noting that collaboration with Africa would be mutually beneficial.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa,” Ishiba said. “But first, Japan needs to know more about Africa. Together, through co-creation, we can achieve sustainable growth.”
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