Raphael Kanu
Presidential aides Bayo Onanuga and Temitope Ajayi on Friday paid a visit to Kisarazu, the Japanese city officially designated as the “hometown” for Nigerians living and working in Japan.
Their trip came a day after the conclusion of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), where Japan unveiled Kisarazu as part of a strategic initiative to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth, and enhance workforce productivity.
Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, described the visit as a symbolic connection between the two countries, recalling the city’s importance during the Tokyo 2021 Olympic 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 Mayor Watanabe’s office is also located,” he wrote in a post on his X handle Saturday.
According to a statement from the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the new partnership will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who wish to relocate to Kisarazu.
He added that Nigerian artisans and blue-collar workers seeking to upgrade their skills will also benefit from the new arrangement, which opens doors for employment and professional advancement in Japan.