President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s rise to its rightful place in the global community has begun, assuring Nigerians in the Diaspora that the country’s economy is stabilizing, opportunities are expanding, and ongoing reforms are delivering visible results.
Speaking during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community in Japan on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), the President reaffirmed his administration’s determination to reverse negative trends and make Nigeria a land of prosperity.
“All I want to do is assure you that things are stable, the economy is stabilized, the opportunity is immense, people are coming back… We are reversing the medical tourism in every way that we could, and I can give you the assurance we are seeing the beginning of Nigeria rising,” Tinubu said to applause.
The President urged Nigerians abroad to remain engaged in nation-building, stressing that while it is their right to live abroad, their contributions are critical to achieving Nigeria’s developmental aspirations. “If you stay away, who will build it?” he asked.
Tinubu emphasized that governance is about “thinking and doing,” promising to create an enabling environment for all Nigerians to thrive. He urged the Diaspora community to be good ambassadors and avoid negative narratives that could harm the country’s image.
Other speakers at the session highlighted the administration’s reform agenda: John Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, cited bold economic policies that have attracted global commendation, including praise from WTO DG Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Khalil Halilu, EVC of NASENI, announced that more than 1,000 applications for investments in Nigeria’s technology and industrial sectors have been received globally, with over $2 billion committed and factories planned in partnership with Japanese firms, Wale Tinubu, CEO of Oando Plc, lauded the government’s liberalization of exchange rates and fuel subsidy removal, noting that these reforms have boosted revenues and foreign investment.
Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Tokyo, praised the contributions of Nigerians excelling in various fields in Japan, while the President of the Nigerian Union in Japan, Emeka Egbogota, commended Tinubu’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria driven by technology and entrepreneurship.
The meeting ended on a note of renewed partnership between the government and its citizens abroad, with President Tinubu reiterating his commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian plays a role in the country’s progress.
