Japan pledges $5.5billion towards Africa sustainable development, as Tinubu demands UN recognition
By Obiabin Onukwugha
Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, at the ongoing Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), in Tokyo Japan, pledged a $5.5billion financing for African sustainable development.
Shigeru, who made the pledge at the opening session of the TICAD9 on Wednesday, announced that the financing will be through a collaborative economic framework between Japan and the African Development Bank that will see a maximum of $5.5 billion disbursed to Africa, utilising Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) private sector investment finance as a catalyst.
He emphasised the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative efforts for Africa’s development. Ishiba also emphasised that locally rooted solutions are essential for Africa’s development, and outlined Japan’s focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women empowerment, and regional integration.
“Japan is providing various cooperation and support for Africa. But first of all, Japan needs to know more about Africa. So, in creating solutions together, this co-creation at the TICAD 9, we focus on three important areas: private sector-led sustainable growth, Youth and Women, and Regional integration and connectivity within and beyond Africa,” he said.
Shigeru however, appealed to African countries to assist Japan as it grapples with the challenges of a declining population and shrinking agricultural land.
“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.
“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.
“In Africa, there is a primary industry, agriculture, forestry, and industries, and then it jumped over to the tertiary sectors and the services industries.
“There is a jump in economic growth that Japan and other Asian countries have experienced and they have tried to move from the primary, the Agriculture, fisheries, forestry to the secondary, that is a necessary process because the power of the youth could be realised fully in the manufacturing industry to improve the productivity of Africa’s manufacturing sector,” the Prime Minister stated.
Addressing the session, Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu demanded the right of Africa at the United Nations Security Council in line with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.”
“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,” Tinubu said.
The president called for international cooperation to ensure technology becomes a tool for peace and trust, not division and alienation. He thanked the Nigerian Armed Forces not only for the battles they fight, but for the peace they help build.
“Peace is not just the absence of war. It is justice. It is opportunity. It is inclusion. That is where our reforms are focused. Our mission is to win both the battle and the future,” he said.
While thanking the Japanese $5.5 billion commitment to Africa, Tinubu noted that “true partnership requires a shift from aid to investment, from charity to co-creation, from pledges to shared purpose, and from marginalisation to fair representation.”
