I’m excited to share my recent experience with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA), where I participated in an interview as part of their ongoing efforts to promote Africa’s appeal ahead of the TICAD Ministerial Meeting this year and TICAD 9 next year.

As part of this initiative, MOFA reached out to ABE Initiative students and graduates living in Tokyo, inviting me to engage in interviews and discussions. I had the privilege of sharing my thoughts on what I expect from Japan, what I am most proud of about Nigeria, and the recent developments taking place across Africa.

In addition to the interview, I also had a meaningful discussion with college students from the Model AU Committee. This exchange provided a unique platform to bridge the cultural and informational gap between Africa and Japan, fostering stronger ties and mutual understanding between our regions.

The entire experience was incredibly enriching, and I’m pleased to share that the interview was recorded and is now available for viewing. You can watch the video and gain insights into our discussions directly through the video below:

Watch the Interview

<Message from youth> A scholar of ABE Initiative （#African Business Education Initiative for Youth） announced at #TICAD V talks about his experience in Japan! Check the message from Mr. Abdulazeez Idiaro from #Nigeria 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/0Sj7K83ui7

— 外務省（MOFA）× TICAD（アフリカ開発会議）【Official】 (@ticad_official) September 3, 2024

Japanese: https://x.com/ticad_official/status/1830882281034318187

English: https://x.com/ticad_official/status/1830882403528896831

French: https://x.com/ticad_official/status/1831165537357119606

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this significant initiative and to play a part in enhancing the dialogue between Africa and Japan. This engagement is a step forward in our collective efforts to strengthen our ties, and I look forward to the continued collaboration between our regions.

Thank you to MOFA and JICA for making this possible. I hope you enjoy the video and gain valuable perspectives from our conversation.