The Japanese Government and Federal Government of Nigeria have express commitment to deepen bilateral relations and collaborate to address shared global challenges.
This is according to a statement by Ms Shimada Mami, Third Secretary, Culture and Information/General/ Protocol Section, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, on Saturday in Abuja.
Mami said that both countries made the commitment on Saturday at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting.
The secretary said that the agreement was reached during a meeting between Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and her Nigerian counterpart, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Tuggar had visited Japan to participate in TICAD.
According to Mami, the minister said that Japan intends to deepen cooperation to solve global challenges with Nigeria, a leader among African countries, sharing values and principles such as democracy.
She said that the foreign minister also expressed her intention to discuss ways to further strengthen business and economic relations, including start-ups, and to also enhance partnership with Nigeria.
Mami said that the minister had observed the serious situation facing internally displaced women during her visit to Nigeria has realised the need for initiatives based on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) perspective.
She added that Yoko expressed her gratitude for the substantial dialogues held on the occasion of her visit to Nigeria in April.
In his response, Tuggar welcomed the concrete outcomes through the TICAD process and expressed his gratitude for Japan’s cooperation to date.
He said that he would like to strengthen bilateral relations including regional cooperation.
The two ministers at the meeting confirmed the further deepening of Japan-Nigeria relations toward TICAD 9 next year. ( NAN
