BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
As part of strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth and enhance workforce productivity, the government of Japan has named the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country.
Under the new partnership as announced on the sidelines of the 9th 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 live and work in Kisarazu.
Artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria that are ready to upskill will also benefit from the special dispensation visa to work in Japan.
This was even as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also named the cities of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture, the hometown of Tanzania, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture, the hometown of Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture, the hometown of Mozambique.
Through the arrangement, Japan seeks to strengthen exchanges with the four African countries by officially connecting municipalities with existing relations among the benefitting nations.
Nigeria's Charge d'Affaires, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, also the Acting Ambassador to Japan, and Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate from the Japanese government naming Kisarazu the hometown of Nigerians.
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 authorities are optimistic that the designations will increase the population of their cities, contributing to their regional revitalisation efforts.
Kisarazu was the official host town of the Nigerian contingent for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team conducted their pre-games training camps and acclimatisation in the city before moving to the Olympic village, in the COVID-19 delayed Olympic Games.
News Rider reports that at TICAD9, the Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba had announced a $5.5 billion new investment in Africa, emphasising the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa's development.
The prime minister outlined Japan's focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.
He acknowledged the challenges of Japan's ageing population but emphasised that locally rooted solutions are essential for Africa's development.
"Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa," Ishiba said.
He appealed to African countries to assist Japan as it grapples with the challenges of a declining population and shrinking agricultural land.
This was contained in a statement by the Director of Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye in Abuja.
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