Despite warning by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja on Sunday, August 25, for Japan to participate in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) holding in the City of Yokohama from August 28 to August 30, Igbere TV reports.
Recall that Igbere TV had earlier reported that Buhari’s participation would be his second having attended TICAD6 in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2016.
“With the theme, “Africa and Yokohama, Sharing Passion for the Future,” the opening session of TICAD7 will be performed by the Japanese prime minister and host, Shinzo Abe,’’ Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity said.
The presidential aide revealed that Buhari would deliver Nigeria’s statement during Plenary Session three in which he will appraise Nigeria-Japan relations and takeaways from TICAD6.
He said the president would attend a state banquet and also honour the invitation of Emperor Naruhito to a Tea Reception at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo.
“In addition to a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Abe, the Nigerian President will also attend some side-events and meet chief executive officers of some Japanese companies with huge investments in Nigeria,’’ he added.
Formed in 1993, the now triennial TICAD, which has been convened alternately in Japan and Africa since TICAD6, according to the organisers, is the largest international conference held in Japan which “provides an open forum that generates innovative discussion among various stakeholders on African development.”
