Nigeria to open TICAD9 booth on Thursday — a day before summit ends
Nigeria’s booth at the ongoing Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan will not open until Thursday, August 21, just one day before the summit concludes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this in a statement on X on Wednesday, following public criticism over Nigeria’s unmanned stall during the opening of the three-day conference.
The event, which runs from August 20 to 22 at the Pacifico Yokohama, gathers African governments, investors and development partners.
While other African countries had officials distributing materials and engaging visitors, Nigeria’s section stood empty, sparking embarrassment among delegates.
The lapse was first flagged by Nigerian participant Idris Ayodeji Bello, who posted photos and videos of the unattended booth on X.
“I hate to show negative things about Nigeria, but it is sad that Nigeria is the only unmanned booth at TICAD9 in Japan,” he wrote.
Bello said Japanese attendees kept approaching him with questions.
“Only God knows how many Japanese folks have asked me about the unmanned booth seeing my dressing. So ashamed, I have now designated myself as Honorary Consul and taken over the booth to engage visitors,” he added, sharing images of the stall emblazoned with Nigeria’s colours.”
In response, the foreign ministry insisted the booth had not been opened yet.
“The Nigerian Booth at #TICAD9 will be officially inaugurated on Thursday, 21st August 2025, after which it will become fully operational and serve the delegates of TICAD,” the statement read.
But Nigerians online reacted furiously.
X user @jaytee_er slammed the government’s defence, noting that the exhibition hall was already active.
“Why will you tell people that the Nigeria booth will be inaugurated one whole day after the event has started, especially when the exhibition hall in question is in active use? This incompetence must end,” he wrote.
