The Presidency has dismissed viral social media claims about an empty booth allegedly representing Nigeria at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, stressing that the country’s mission at the summit is focused on high-level engagements, not participation in trade expos.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, described the trending video as a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s activities at the triennial conference.
“The Nigerian delegation to the summit, led by President Bola Tinubu, is laser-focused on its core objectives of achieving tangible outcomes from the scheduled lineup of bilateral and multilateral engagements targeted at driving optimum performance in key sectors of the economy, especially in power, industry, and agriculture,” the statement read.
Onanuga clarified that Nigeria did not attend TICAD 9 to run a trade booth, which is an open forum segment of the conference. Instead, the country’s focus is on strategic discussions with development partners, global corporations, and financial institutions.
Highlighting some of the key engagements, he noted that President Tinubu will meet with executives of Toyota Corporation, CFAO, UN-Habitat, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation. Similarly, government ministers and business leaders are engaged in sideline meetings with potential investors and multilateral organisations.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is leading talks with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on several major power projects, including the Lagos-Ogun Power Transmission System Improvement project, a vocational training partnership between JICA and the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN), and a $190 million renewable energy scale-up programme. Adelabu is also scheduled to hold discussions with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Toshiba and Hitachi.
Additionally, the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Dr. Supo Olusi, is engaged in negotiations with JICA and other institutions as part of the bank’s annual global fund syndication.
Onanuga also disclosed that the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) will host an investment forum on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
He urged Nigerians to disregard misleading online narratives, noting that while social media thrives on sensationalism, Nigeria remains fully engaged in the crucial conversations shaping Africa’s development at TICAD 9.