Presidential aides, Bayo Onanuga and Temitope Ajayi, on Friday, visited Kisarazu, the Japanese city newly designated as Nigeria’s hometown.

The visit came a day after the conclusion of the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9), where Japan formally announced Kisarazu as a settlement hub for Nigerians.

Onanuga said the city holds symbolic ties with Nigeria, recalling that it hosted the country’s Olympic team during the Tokyo 2021 Games.

“After the closing ceremony of TICAD9, we went on a voyage of discovery to Kisarazu, the town the Japanese have designated as Nigeria’s hometown.

“Nigeria’s Olympic team camped here in 2021. The video shows the city centre, where the Mayor Watanabe’s office is also located,” Onanuga stated on Saturday.

The Government of Japan had named the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country on Thursday, as part of its strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth, and enhance workforce productivity.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Director of Information at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye.

The statement noted that under the new partnership, announced on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development, 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 statement noted that artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan.

 

OLUGBENGA IGE