Lagos-born music star and UNDP Africa Goodwill Ambassador Patoranking took center stage at the first-ever Youth Drive panel during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.
The event, held on August 22, 2025, marked a historic moment as young people from Africa and Japan were placed at the forefront of discussions for the first time in TICAD’s 30-year history.
Patoranking, who traveled from Lagos to Yokohama, shared his excitement on X, praising the Africa Diaspora Network Japan (ADNJ), Asia Africa Youth Nest (AAYN), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Tokyo for their efforts in organizing the panel.
He emphasized the power of youth leadership, stating, “When young people lead, we don’t just shape the future, we own it.”
The panel focused on co-creating solutions for Africa’s future, highlighting youth empowerment, innovation, and collaboration between African and Japanese youth.
The Youth Drive event is part of the broader TICAD9 Youth Initiative, which aims to develop the “Youth Agenda 2055: The Future We Want.”
This policy proposal, supported by JICA, UNDP, and other partners, seeks to institutionalize youth participation in TICAD’s framework, fostering stronger ties between Africa and Japan.
Over 100 participants, including young leaders, policymakers, and business representatives, attended the event, which also featured a cultural fusion show blending African and Japanese traditions.
