By Maureen Okon
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) says Nigeria showcases the spirit of benevolence through developmental diplomacy using the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Scheme as a tool.
Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General (D-G) of NTAC, said this on Friday when members of National Council of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) paid a courtesy visit to him in Abuja.
Yakub said that Nigerians had always showcased a spirit of benevolence through development diplomacy everywhere they go across the world.
He restated the role played globally by Nigeria in midwifing development across the world, stressing that the country has always been on the forefront of promoting sustainable development goals.
He reiterated the commitment of Nigerian volunteers to the development of countries of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions, and that of the entire globe.
According to the NTAC D-G, the much Nigeria has continued to do for the development of the global community and humanity in general has largely gone unreported.
He said that this had hampered a global recognition of Nigeria’s place as a major player in the promotion of sustainable development goals as a giver-nation.
He said that there was the need to put out the right narrative about the giant strides being made by Nigeria to assist in development of other nations across the world, especially using the TAC Scheme.
“Nigeria has always showcased our spirit of benevolence through development diplomacy everywhere they go across the world.
“For a very long time, this country has maintained its position of being our brothers’ keepers from ACP countries and beyond.
“In 1987, NTAC was officially established, this establishment was consummated by an Act of Parliament in 1993. Since over 38 years now, Nigeria has continued to contribute immensely,” he said.
Yakub said the country had contributed to development of health, education, engineering, agriculture and other areas of national life of other nations through the deployment of experts to these countries as volunteers.
“These highly qualified professionals assist these nations in diverse development initiatives and in doing so provide labour for global development.
“These volunteers are today in such high demand that today we have finalised arrangements at the relevant ministries of government to start sending out some of these volunteers for a fee,’’ he said.
He said that NTAC volunteers had pioneered the academic development of countries such as Uganda, Rwanda and The Gambia.
He said that in those countries, Nigerian volunteers were currently serving as Vice Chancellors, Deputy Vice Chancellors and Directors of Schools in some of their institutions of higher learning.
Yakub said that past students of Nigerian volunteers had consistently risen to places of importance, including being cabinet ministers across countries of NTAC operations.
The NTAC boss also said that the agency was open to a closer collaboration with the NITP as a major stakeholder organisation in national development.
He lauded the valuable expertise of the Institute, while urging its members to network with their fellow professionals across the globe.
This, he said, was in order to strengthen the practice of town-planning and to expose NITP members to global best practices in the profession.
Earlier, Dr Ogbonna Chime, the National President of NITP, said that NTAC had re-engineered a new wave of global attention and influence in the areas of technical manpower assistance and development diplomacy across the world.
Ogbonna expressed the desire for a closer collaboration between NITP and NTAC, adding that such collaboration would enhance the delivery of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the Federal Government.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NITP delegation also included David Garnvwa, a former President of the Institute, and Dr Garba Jibrin, the Institute’s 2nd National Vice President.
There was also Dr Muhammed Zayyanu, NITP National Secretary, amongst others.
Those present on the side of NTAC included Ambassador Yakubu Ahmed, the Director of Administration and Zakari Usman the Director of Programmes. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
