The government of Japan has designated the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians willing to live and work in the country as part of its strategic efforts to deepen cultural diplomacy, promote economic growth, and enhance workforce productivity.
Under this new partnership, announced on Thursday 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 wish to relocate to Kisarazu to live and work.
According to a statement on Friday by the Director of Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, 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 hope 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.
In his opening address at the TICAD9, where he announced $5.5 billion in New investment in Africa, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasised the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development.
