By Joke Kujenya
COMMITMENT TO security reforms, economic stability, and global representation featured prominently as President Bola Tinubu addressed leaders at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan.
The President praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their advances in the fight against insurgency and criminality, underscoring that true justice to their sacrifice lies in addressing the underlying causes of insecurity.
Speaking during the plenary session on Peace and Stability, he stressed that inclusivity, diversity, and the rule of law remain Nigeria’s core strengths, while ongoing momentum within the armed forces serves as a foundation for national stability and development.
“Nigeria’s brave armed forces can win any number of battles, but we do justice to their heroism only when we, as government, are courageous in tackling not just terror, but also the underlying causes,” President Tinubu stated.
He highlighted continuing investments in infrastructure, institutional reforms, and partnerships with civil society and international stakeholders to improve citizens’ living standards.
He also noted the importance of linking peacebuilding directly to economic development, citing recent mediation efforts in Congo as an example of a new approach delivering results.
“We should be under no illusions about the scale of our task. But neither should we underestimate the successes we have had,” he said.
“Now, we see mediators directly linking outcomes to investment in Congo. It is working and underlines the need for fresh thinking in everything we do to deliver peace and stability.”
The President made a strong appeal for international cooperation in harnessing technology as an instrument of peace and trust rather than conflict.
He said Nigeria’s approach focuses not only on winning battles but on deploying innovation, reforms, and partnerships to create long-term stability.
Central to his intervention was a call for a shift from traditional aid dependency towards market-driven partnerships that encourage shared growth.
President Tinubu argued that sustainable cooperation should be rooted in private sector investments, trade, and joint innovation rather than reliance on handouts.
“We can do justice to the heroism and sacrifice of our armed forces only when we, as governments, display the courage to be tough, not only on terror, but on the causes of terror,” he reiterated.
He urged development partners to embrace mutually beneficial cooperation frameworks that empower African nations to unlock their demographic potential, industrial capacity, and youthful population.
The President positioned Nigeria as a country already undertaking significant macroeconomic reforms and expressed confidence that Africa’s growth would be more enduring if tied to sustainable business models.
On global governance, President Tinubu pressed Japan and other international stakeholders to support Africa’s long-standing demand for reform of the United Nations organs, particularly the Security Council.
“It is the view of Nigeria that Africa’s quest for fair and equitable representation in the UN Security Council is a just and fair demand.
Indeed, Africa deserves two seats in the Permanent Category, with all its prerogatives and privileges, including the Right of Veto.
Africa also deserves additional seats in the non–permanent seat category of the Security Council, as encapsulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration,” the President said.
The Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, in his opening remarks, underlined Japan’s commitment to co-creating solutions with Africa through local ownership and mutual understanding.
He announced a collaborative economic framework between Japan and the African Development Bank that will make available up to $5.5 billion to Africa.
The facility, he explained, will be channelled through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to mobilise private sector-led financing across the continent.
Prime Minister Ishiba said the initiative is designed to act as a catalyst for sustainable development, highlighting private sector-led growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration as the framework’s three priority areas.
By leveraging JICA’s private sector investment finance, he noted, Japan intends to unlock wider commercial opportunities while supporting Africa’s industrial and social development goals.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa,” Prime Minister Ishiba said.
“In creating solutions together, this co-creation at TICAD 9 focuses on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women, and regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa.”
He acknowledged Japan’s demographic challenges, including a declining population and shrinking agricultural land, and appealed for collaboration with Africa.
“In 75 years from now, the population of Japan would have been halved. In the local communities, the population continues to decline; this is one big challenge Japan is facing. All agricultural land is being reduced, another major challenge for Japan,” he explained.
By contrast, he emphasised Africa’s demographic advantage, pointing to its youthful population as a critical driver of future growth.
“There is another potential in Africa; there is so much growing young population in Africa, but for the power of young people in Africa to flourish, you need to create a manufacturing industry and create employment, and that, I believe, is very important to improve the productivity of Africa’s manufacturing sector,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that Japan’s own experience of transitioning from agriculture and forestry to manufacturing and services could serve as a useful guide for Africa’s structural transformation.
President Tinubu concluded his intervention by affirming that Nigeria’s focus on inclusivity, security, and economic reforms aligns with the broader aspirations of Africa.
He said sustainable peace, good governance, and strengthened global partnerships remain the foundation for unlocking prosperity across the continent.
