By Nkechi Eze
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday praised the courage and resilience of Nigeria’s armed forces in the fight against insurgency and criminality, describing their recent momentum as a critical springboard for national peace, stability and development.
Speaking during the plenary session on Peace and Stability at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan, the President reaffirmed his administration’s determination to dismantle the root causes of insecurity through strengthened security architecture and far-reaching economic reforms.
“Nigeria’s brave armed forces can win any number of battles,” President Tinubu said, “but we do justice to their heroism only when we, as government, are courageous in tackling not just terror, but also the underlying causes of terror.”
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu underscored the need for deeper international partnerships anchored on mutual benefit, inclusivity and the rule of law. He emphasised that Nigeria’s diversity remains its greatest strength and a model for others across the continent.
His remarks followed the opening address by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who announced the launch of a new collaborative framework between Japan and the African Development Bank, under which Japan will mobilise up to $5.5 billion in private sector investment finance through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to support sustainable growth across the continent.
Prime Minister Ishiba also stressed the importance of youth and women empowerment, locally driven solutions and regional integration as vital pillars of Africa’s development. He described Africa’s growing youthful population as a unique opportunity, stressing the need to expand manufacturing, create jobs and build productive capacity to unlock the continent’s true potential.
President Tinubu welcomed the commitment from Japan, but cautioned that Africa’s progress could not be driven by handouts, calling instead for market-driven partnerships and investment-focused cooperation. He cited the recent progress in peace talks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where economic considerations are being integrated into mediation efforts, as evidence of the need for “fresh thinking” across the continent.
“We should be under no illusion about the scale of the task before us, but neither should we underestimate our successes,” he said. “Competition for resources has driven conflict in the past. Today, mediators are linking peace to investment. It is working and it shows that we need bold new approaches to achieve durable stability.”
The President also used the occasion to renew Nigeria’s call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, to reflect present realities and give Africa a stronger voice in global decision-making. “Africa deserves two permanent seats with all attendant privileges, including the right of veto,” he said, citing the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration as Africa’s common position.
Turning to technology, President Tinubu urged international cooperation to ensure that digital innovation becomes a tool for peace and inclusion rather than a source of division and alienation.
Prime Minister Ishiba, in his address, appealed to African leaders to work with Japan as it confronts demographic and agricultural challenges, noting that Africa’s youthful population could become a powerful force in bridging global labour and productivity gaps.
Japan, he said, is ready to co-create solutions with Africa, with a focus on private sector-led sustainable growth, youth and women, and regional integration.
TICAD9 continues in Yokohama with thematic sessions on investment, health, agriculture and digital innovation, as world leaders and development partners chart new pathways for Africa’s transformation.
