Nigeria and Japan are moving to establish a joint industrial and investment hub to attract foreign capital, accelerate technology transfer, create jobs and help Nigerian businesses access Japanese supply chains and wider African markets.
The proposal was put forward by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, as part of efforts to translate 66 years of diplomatic relations between both countries into a stronger economic partnership driven by investment, industrialisation and job creation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu made the proposal during a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, urging Tokyo to work with Nigeria on a practical roadmap for the proposed Nigeria-Japan Industrial and Investment Hub.
The hub is expected to facilitate joint ventures, connect investors with credible Nigerian businesses, promote skills development and encourage Japanese companies to establish stronger industrial linkages with Africa’s largest economy.
The minister stressed that bilateral agreements must translate into concrete investment commitments and measurable development outcomes rather than remain diplomatic declarations.
“The outcomes of the Forum must be translated into concrete programmes, investment commitments and measurable development outcomes,” she said.
She called for the implementation of agreements reached at the 10th Nigeria-Japan Special Partnership Forum, held in Abuja on August 27, through practical programmes and regular consultations between the foreign ministries of both countries.
To deepen private-sector participation, Odumegwu-Ojukwu called for more partnerships between Nigerian and Japanese companies through joint ventures, local content development, skills transfer and the integration of Nigerian businesses into Japanese supply chains.
She also sought greater engagement by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to connect Japanese investors with Nigerian enterprises and public-sector partners.
Beyond manufacturing and trade, Nigeria is seeking Japanese investment in solid minerals, gas development, cleaner energy technologies and industrial decarbonisation, highlighting the strategic importance of resilient energy and critical-mineral supply chains.
The initiative comes alongside Japan’s development cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, education and technical training through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Odumegwu-Ojukwu welcomed a $10 million JICA-supported initiative to strengthen Nigeria’s startup ecosystem through catalytic capital and institutional development, in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.
She also called for sustained Japanese support for peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance and stabilisation in Nigeria and West Africa, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability through the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
On mobility, the minister urged continued dialogue to resolve visa challenges affecting businesspeople, students, researchers, officials and tourists.
Responding, Suzuki said Japan was desirous of deepening cooperation with Nigeria, which he described as a strategic African giant. He assured that visa-related issues would be handled expeditiously to facilitate business and people-to-people exchanges.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the cordial relations between both countries offered an opportunity to build a more dynamic partnership anchored on investment, industrialisation, technology transfer and shared prosperity.