Yemi Obafemi
As part of its cultural diplomacy efforts to promote economic growth and enhance workforce productivity, the government of Japan has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official hometown for Nigerians who wish to live and work in the country.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Japan confirmed the creation of a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians willing to relocate to Kisarazu.
The initiative was announced on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, alongside Yoshikuni Watanabe, Mayor of Kisarazu, received the certificate from the Japanese government officially naming the city as Nigeria’s hometown in Japan.
According to the statement, the program will also benefit artisans and other blue-collar workers from Nigeria, who will have the opportunity to upskill under the special visa arrangement.
In a related development, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced similar designations for other African countries: Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture as Tanzania’s hometown, Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture as Ghana’s hometown, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture as Mozambique’s hometown.
The Japanese government explained that the initiative aims to strengthen exchanges with the four African nations by officially linking their municipalities with Japanese host cities.
“The four cities will foster a foundation for two-way exchanges in manpower development, contributing to the economic growth of Japan, Nigeria, and the other three African nations. Local authorities also hope the designations will boost city populations and support regional revitalization efforts,” the statement read.
