Japan don officially name Kisarazu City, wey dey for Chiba Prefecture, as the “hometown” for Nigerians wey wan live and work for Japan. This new move go come with one special visa category just for Nigerians, especially those wey get skills and ready to contribute to Japan’s workforce.

Di announcement drop on Friday for statement wey come from Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information for Nigeria State House. Di matter burst out during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).

 

Japan government talk say dem go create a special visa to welcome highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians wey wan relocate go Kisarazu. Even artisans and blue-collar workers wey ready to learn new skills go benefit from this arrangement.

Di idea na to help Japan tackle their own wahala of ageing population and shortage of workers, while still help Nigeria youths find better opportunities.

For the official ceremony, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires to Japan, Florence Adeseke, and Yoshikuni Watanabe, Mayor of Kisarazu, collect certificate from Japanese government wey show say Kisarazu don become the official hometown of Nigerians.

Japan no stop for Nigeria alone. Dem also assign:
    •    Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture to Tanzania
    •    Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture to Ghana
    •    Imabari in Ehime Prefecture to Mozambique

Through this arrangement, Japan wan strengthen ties and create two-way exchange for skills and manpower between their local cities and African countries.

Kisarazu no be new to Naija. Na there Nigerian Olympic team do their pre-games training and prepare body before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Di city don already get connection with Nigeria, and dem hope say this move go bring more Nigerians come settle and work for there.

For him opening speech for TICAD9, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announce $5.5 billion new investment for Africa. He talk say the relationship go focus on:
    •    Private sector-led sustainable growth
    •    Empowerment of Youth and Women
    •    Regional integration and connectivity

He also beg African countries make dem support Japan as dem dey struggle with ageing population and shrinking farmlands.

“Japan dey offer many support to Africa, but first we need to understand each other more,” Prime Minister Ishiba talk. “This partnership go bring solutions from both sides.”
This new move na big win for both Japan and Nigeria. As Japan dey find ways to boost their workforce, Nigerian youths fit get new chance to shine abroad – especially for Kisarazu, their new “official hometown” for Japan.