Japan has officially recognized Kisarazu City as the designated hometown for Nigerians who aspire to reside and work within its borders, in a bid to enhance cultural diplomacy and meet workforce demands.
This declaration was made on Thursday, during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
Abiodun Oladunjoye, the State House’s Director of Information, revealed this information on Friday.
Oladunjoye shared that, as part of this initiative, Japan will roll out a unique visa category tailored for exceptionally skilled and gifted young Nigerians, alongside craftsmen and blue-collar workers eager to improve their skills.
The statement from officials indicated that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has also assigned three additional Japanese cities as hometowns for various African nations: Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture for Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique.
Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, and Kisarazu’s Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe were presented with the official certificate from the Japanese government affirming this designation.
Authorities reported that this initiative aims to foster workforce development, bolster bilateral interactions, and aid regional revitalization by boosting local population numbers.
Kisarazu had previously accommodated Nigeria’s team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where athletes conducted pre-competition training camps in the city.
While addressing TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a new investment pledge of $5.5 billion for Africa, underscoring Japan’s commitment to growth driven by the private sector, the empowerment of youth and women, and regional integration.
He further called for collaboration with African nations as it tackles the issues posed by an ageing demographic and diminishing agricultural land.