Onanuga, Ajayi visit Kisarazu, Japan’s newly designated ‘Nigerian hometown’
Presidential aides Bayo Onanuga and Temitope Ajayi on Friday visited Kisarazu, the Japanese city recently named Nigeria’s official hometown.
The visit followed the conclusion of the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9), where Japan formally unveiled Kisarazu as a settlement hub for Nigerians.
Onanuga, in a post on X, noted the symbolic link between Nigeria and the city, recalling its role as the training camp for the country’s Olympic team during the Tokyo 2021 Games.
“After the closing ceremony of TICAD9, we went on a voyage of discovery to Kisarazu, the town the Japanese have designated as Nigeria’s hometown. Nigeria’s Olympic team camped here in 2021. The video shows the city centre, where the Mayor Watanabe’s office is also located,” he wrote.
The Japanese government had on Thursday confirmed Kisarazu as the official settlement city for Nigerians wishing to live and work in the country. The initiative is part of Tokyo’s broader plan to deepen cultural ties, drive economic growth, and strengthen its workforce.
According to a statement by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, the partnership includes a special visa category for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians. The scheme will also benefit artisans and blue-collar workers seeking to upgrade their skills, granting them employment opportunities in Japan.
