By Chinenye Offor
Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General (D-G) Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) says Nigeria’s deployment exercise to the Eastern Caribbean countries is aimed at strengthening South-South Co-operation.
Yakub said this during the deployment exercise of 18 Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers bound for St. Kitts and Nevis.
According to him, the move is also to fill critical manpower gaps in developing Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries.
He described the deployment as one of the most important and challenging in the history of the programme.
He said that it followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu for Nigeria to extend technical assistance to Eastern Caribbean nations.
“Nigeria has so far deployed volunteers to Grenada and Jamaica, with St. Kitts and Nevis next, while plans are underway to send volunteers to six additional Caribbean countries in the first quarter of 2026,” he said.
He said that the initiative underscored Nigeria’s role as a major contributor to global development through technical cooperation.
Yakub also highlighted the significance of the deployment exercise, which coincided with the commencement of direct flights from Nigeria to the Caribbean by the country’s indigenous airline, Air Peace.
He described the development as a boost to the nation’s aviation sector and a reduction in travel time for volunteers.
The NTAC boss urged the volunteers to serve with integrity, professionalism and commitment, noting that they will be ambassadors of Nigeria in their host country.
Earlier, Ambassador Zakari Usman, the Director of Programmes of NTAC, described the deployment as a fitting way to close the year.
Usman, who was represented by Mr. Fehintola Oyeyemi,
commended the NTAC-DG and other management staff for sustaining regular overseas postings of Nigerian professionals.
He said that the 18 volunteers, made up largely of medical personnel and other experts, were well prepared for the assignment.
Speaking on behalf of the volunteers, Mr Samuel Edo-Esamah, the Team Lead, expressed gratitude to the NTAC leadership for the opportunity to serve abroad.
He promised that the team would uphold Nigeria’s values and represent the country with distinction in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deployment and orientation exercise for the TAC volunteers was held on Friday at the Corps’ Headquarters in Abuja (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
