By Maureen Okon
Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) says capacity building is essential for Foreign Service Officers to meet growing institutional demands.
Yakub said this while flagging off a one-day leadership capacity-building programme in Abuja.
The training, titled “Leadership in Action: Inspiring, Coaching and Empowering Staff,” is for Foreign Service Officers and Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel serving at NTAC.
He said the programme was informed by an internal assessment and is aimed at strengthening leadership effectiveness, mentoring capacity, supervisory competence and the use of technology to enhance performance.
According to him, effective leadership remains central to NTAC’s operations, noting that officers must not only deliver on tasks but also mentor junior staff and guide their professional development.
In a presentation, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, emphasised the need for digital competence in modern diplomacy.
Presenting a paper on leveraging technology for administrative and protocol practice, he said officers must combine sound diplomatic judgment with strong digital skills.
He urged personnel to take responsibility for acquiring relevant digital tools and competencies, stressing that mentorship alone is no longer sufficient in today’s diplomatic environment.
Enikanolaiye highlighted the role of technology in digital correspondence, records management, workflow automation and mission-headquarters coordination, while cautioning against cybersecurity risks and over-reliance on Artificial Intelligence tools.
Also speaking, a former Presidential Aide, Amb. Abdullahi Omaki, underscored the importance of values, ethics and cross-cultural competence in leadership.
He urged leaders to see diversity as a strength and remain responsive to Nigeria’s evolving international role.
NAN reports that the training ended with participants reaffirming their commitment to strengthening leadership and service delivery within NTAC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)
