Nigeria came under heavy criticism on Wednesday after its exhibition booth stood unmanned on the opening day of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan.
Videos shared by social entrepreneur Idris Ayodeji Bello showed Nigeria’s stall deserted while other African nations showcased investment opportunities. Bello, who described the scene as “embarrassing,” stepped in to engage visitors himself, fielding questions on sectors ranging from agriculture to real estate. His intervention went viral on social media, amplifying outrage at what many Nigerians viewed as a symbol of poor planning and institutional inefficiency.
Critics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, described the incident as a “national disgrace” that undermines President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s push to attract foreign investors. Online commentators echoed the sentiment, lamenting that Nigeria had missed a chance to promote trade and development at one of Africa’s most important diplomatic gatherings.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved quickly to calm the uproar, explaining that the booth was scheduled for official inauguration on August 21, the second day of the conference. The Presidency also defended Nigeria’s participation, stressing that the government was prioritizing strategic bilateral and multilateral engagements with partners including Toyota, JICA, UNDP, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), rather than the exhibition component.
Despite these clarifications, the empty booth episode fueled renewed debate about Nigeria’s global image, coordination failures, and the credibility of its investment drive. Observers say the incident highlights the urgent need for greater professionalism in projecting the country’s strengths on the international stage.
