【About Us】Message from Ambassador

My name is Yutaka KIKUTA, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I arrived in Nigeria on 24th May 2018 to take up this position.

Nigeria is an economic and political powerhouse in Africa with its population of approximately 200 million people and its abundant natural resources. For Japan, Nigeria is an extremely important country to promote our diplomacy towards the African region. In this regard, it is my honour to come to such a great country and serve as an Ambassador representing the Government of Japan.

I was born and brought up in Fukushima Prefecture in Japan and I have trained my body and mind through Kendo (Japanese swordsmanship). At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, I engaged myself in various areas including economy and development cooperation. Although Nigeria is the frontier for me, I will, based on my previous experience, endeavor to learn its history and culture, and devote myself to promoting the bilateral relationship between Japan and Nigeria as well as the cooperative activities in the area of regional and global challenges.

In the area of economy, on top of traditional areas of economic interaction between the two countries, the volume of Japan’s import of LNG from Nigeria has been rising since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Furthermore, for many Japanese companies across various sectors, the trend to come to and invest in Nigeria has recently been accelerating. In fact, the number of Japanese companies in Nigeria has been growing steadily, including those who manufacture their products locally at their own plants in Nigeria. Strongly believing further investments from Japanese companies in Nigeria would contribute to the strengthening of the Nigerian economy, I would like to support Japanese companies’ activities in Nigeria.

With regard to development cooperation, the three pillars of Japan’s policies, which were declared at the TICAD VI held in Kenya in 2016, namely ‘Promoting structural economic transformation through economic diversification and industrialization,’ ‘Promoting resilient health systems for quality of life,’ and ‘Promoting social stability for shared prosperity,’ are exactly adequate to respond to the challenges Nigeria is currently facing. TICAD VII is scheduled to be held in Japan next year. Following up the progress made under the three pillars, I am resolved to promote development cooperation with Nigeria towards TICAD VII.

If I look at its cultural aspects, Nigeria is a prominent cultural giant in the areas of literature, music and film, while it is also an information hub. It is famous for influential authors such as Prof. Wole Soyinka who is the first African writer awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, talented music artists with Nigeria being the origin of Afrobeat, and its film industry known as Nollywood which is often compared with Hollywood or Bollywood. Therefore, it is my pleasure to be able to work in such a culturally rich country and strengthen the bilateral relationship through cultural exchange.

   Nigeria will have series of elections, including the presidential election, next year. It demonstrated its advanced democracy to the international community during the previous presidential election in 2015. While I expect the next election will be also conducted, regardless of the result, as peacefully as it was in 2015, I will devote myself to enhancing the interaction and cooperation between Japan and Nigeria at political level.

Lastly allow me to touch upon the Great East Japan Earthquake, which took place in 2011 affecting enormously Japan as a whole and my hometown Fukushima Prefecture in particular. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all the helps and sympathies extended to Japan and Fukushima from the world, including Nigeria. While Fukushima is in a steady process of recovery despite of many challenges still to overcome, one of the most difficult obstacles Fukushima faces is unfounded rumors still heavily weighing and impeding the revitalization efforts. In view of this, I as a Fukushima native am determined to do my best to promote not only the attractiveness of Japan as a whole but also the true picture and regained attractiveness of Fukushima Prefecture and arouse the interest of the Nigerian people accordingly.

Serving as an Ambassador in this endlessly attractive country, it would be highly appreciated if I may count on your generous support and understanding.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan
Yutaka KIKUTA