*FG hails partnership as Japan unveils special visa scheme at TICAD9 The Japanese government has named Kisarazu City as the offi...
*FG hails partnership as Japan unveils special visa scheme at TICAD9
The Japanese government has named Kisarazu City as the official hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in Japan, under a new bilateral framework aimed at enhancing cultural diplomacy and workforce integration.
The announcement was contained in a press release issued by the Nigerian State House on Friday, following a formal declaration made on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
“The government of Japan on Thursday named the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country as part of its strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth and enhance workforce productivity,” the statement read.
According to the press release signed by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information at the State House, the Japanese government will also introduce a special visa category for “highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians” seeking to reside and work in Kisarazu.
The statement added that Nigerian artisans and blue-collar workers who are ready to upskill will also be eligible to benefit from the new migration arrangement.
“Under this new partnership, announced on the sidelines of TICAD9, the Japanese government will create a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work,” the release stated.
The partnership is part of a broader initiative by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which also designated Nagai (Yamagata Prefecture) as the hometown for Tanzania, Sanjo (Niigata) for Ghana, and Imabari (Ehime) for Mozambique.
“Through the arrangement, Japan looks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations with those nations,” the statement added.
At the official ceremony, Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and the Mayor of Kisarazu, Yoshikuni Watanabe, received the certificate naming Kisarazu as Nigeria’s designated hometown.
The statement noted that the initiative would serve as a platform for two-way manpower exchange, stating that:
“The four cities will foster a foundation for two-way exchanges for manpower development that will add value to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the other three African nations.”
Local Japanese authorities are optimistic that the programme will also help revitalize ageing and shrinking regions, a national concern Japan has grappled with for years.
The press release further recalled that Kisarazu hosted Nigeria’s Olympic contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, serving as the team’s base for pre-Games training and acclimatisation.
In his opening remarks at the TICAD9 summit, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a $5.5 billion investment commitment to Africa and called for deeper collaboration between Japan and African nations.
"Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa,” Ishiba said. “So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at TICAD9 focuses on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women, and regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa.”
The Prime Minister also addressed Japan’s demographic crisis, saying:
“We are facing issues of a declining population and shrinking agricultural land. We ask African countries to support us as we navigate these challenges.”
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