The Presidency has debunked a trending social media video suggesting that Nigeria’s stand at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, was left empty. It clarified that Nigeria’s mission at the summit is centered on strategic economic diplomacy and investment negotiations, not on trade exhibitions.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the viral clip as misleading and unrepresentative of Nigeria’s actual participation.
“While we understand the urge by many social media users to seek clicks with incorrect posts, we also recognise that some of these concerns may have been borne out of patriotic sentiment. But it is a concern inspired by ignorance about Nigeria’s mission at TICAD,” Onanuga stated.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian delegation are “laser-focused on achieving tangible outcomes” from high-level engagements with international partners. These discussions are primarily targeted at boosting power, industry, and agriculture, which remain top priorities for Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Onanuga further explained that the delegation, accompanied by leaders of Corporate Nigeria, did not attend TICAD 9 for a trade fair but for serious investment talks designed to unlock new bilateral and multilateral opportunities for national growth.
The statement also highlighted scheduled events, including an investment forum hosted by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) on Thursday, August 21. In addition, ministers and senior officials are holding sideline meetings to attract fresh partnerships and secure development-oriented agreements.
With these clarifications, the Presidency emphasized that Nigeria’s presence at TICAD 9 is not about showcasing products at an exhibition booth but about building strategic alliances and securing investment commitments that can drive sustainable development at home.
