- Tinubu Woos Nigerians in Japan to Bring Expertise Back Home
- Departs Japan for Brazil
- Urged Nigerians abroad to act as worthy ambassadors
President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians living in Japan to return home with their skills, knowledge, and investments, emphasizing that their contributions are crucial to driving economic transformation and strengthening the country’s global leadership role.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the President made this appeal during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Yokohama, held alongside the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
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“You represent the diversity of our country. Nigeria is open for business, open for your thinking and doing. Thinking and doing is what governance is all about, promoting stability, unity and the change necessary for us to grow as a nation,” Tinubu said.
He assured the audience that his administration’s reforms were already producing results, pointing to signs of economic stability, expanding opportunities, and a gradual reversal of medical tourism.
On Thursday, President Tinubu departed Yokohama for Brazil on an ultra-long-haul flight to begin a State Visit scheduled for Sunday, August 24. He is expected to make a stopover in Los Angeles before proceeding to Brasília, the Brazilian capital.
The trip is part of a two-nation visit that began on Friday, August 15, when Tinubu left Abuja with a brief stop in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before arriving in Yokohama on August 18.
While in Japan, he attended the opening ceremony and plenary of the Ninth TICAD conference on August 20 and also engaged in several high-level bilateral meetings, culminating in his session with Nigerians in Japan.
“Things are stable, the economy is stabilised, the opportunities are immense, people are coming back. You will see the beginning of Nigeria rising,” the President declared.
Tinubu also urged Nigerians abroad to act as worthy ambassadors of the country, warning that negative portrayals could damage national progress.
“Poor comments and negative reflections do not help growth. Every positive comment about Nigeria is owed by you, it is for your future and the future of your children,” he told the gathering.
Speaking on consular matters, Tinubu requested feedback on passport renewal and visa processing. He assured Nigerians that reforms were ongoing to improve services. “If your nationality document reflects your expectations, you can be assured Nigeria will meet them,” he added.
Although he acknowledged that some Nigerians may decide to remain abroad for personal or economic reasons, the President insisted that their input at home was indispensable. “Don’t stay away, your contribution is very much needed. If you stay away, who will build it?” he asked.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Enoh, said the government’s reforms were already earning international recognition, noting that World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had recently praised Nigeria’s growing stability.
In the same vein, the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, revealed that more than 1,000 technology transfer applications had been processed in the past year, with commitments worth $2 billion, including factories currently being set up in Nigeria.
Industry leader Wale Tinubu also commended the reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, which he said had boosted government revenue and encouraged diaspora investment.
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Tokyo, Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, applauded Nigerians in Japan, most of whom are students, academics, and professionals, for their positive contributions, while acknowledging immigration-related challenges faced by a few.
Leaders of the Nigerian Union in Japan and other professionals present at the event pledged their support for the President’s reform agenda and expressed confidence in his administration’s capacity to transform the country.
