Nigeria’s Focus At TICAD Was Strategic Engagement, Not Trade Expos – Presidency

The Presidency has dismissed social media claims suggesting Nigeria had an “empty booth” at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, clarifying that the country’s participation was not geared toward trade exhibitions but strategic bilateral and multilateral engagements.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the viral video misrepresented Nigeria’s mission at the triennial conference, where President Bola Tinubu is leading the delegation.

He stressed that the Nigerian team, working in concert with Corporate Nigeria, was “laser-focused” on achieving tangible outcomes in critical sectors such as power, industry, and agriculture, rather than putting up displays at an open trade forum.

“The Nigerian delegation didn’t come to Yokohama and Tokyo to attend any trade expo. Our mission is to drive optimum performance through strategic engagements with global partners,” Onanuga said.

Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagements, also clarified that the space in question was not a conventional national pavilion but part of a designated spillover area, typically used by delegates without access to the main auditorium to follow proceedings or engage informally.

He explained that such rooms can serve as workspaces, quiet zones, or hubs for side meetings, and are not required to be continuously manned. According to him, several other countries also had spaces that were either quiet or lightly used, making it neither unusual nor a sign of disengagement.

Ogra further stressed that Nigeria’s presence at TICAD was not about optics but substance. “We do not need to mimic others to prove our relevance. Visibility is not the only metric. Value is. While some chase optics, Nigerian officials have been working deliberately, consistently, and with focus,” he said.

Onanuga revealed that President Tinubu is scheduled to meet executives of Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation. Nigerian ministers are also holding sideline discussions to secure deals in priority sectors.

Highlighting some of the key areas of engagement, he said the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is spearheading talks to execute multiple power projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

These include the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement project to enhance grid stability, a vocational training partnership between the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) and JICA, and the $190 million Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-up project. Adelabu is also expected to negotiate with Original Equipment Manufacturers such as Toshiba and Hitachi.

Similarly, the Bank of Industry, under the leadership of Dr. Supo Olusi, is holding high-level discussions with JICA and other multilateral institutions as part of its annual global fund syndication efforts.

Onanuga emphasized that social media posts often present sensational but incomplete stories, insisting Nigeria is “fully and well represented” at TICAD9 and remains part of the key conversations shaping Africa’s future partnerships with Japan and other global players.