By Maureen Okon
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has commended 15 Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers who returned from Uganda, attributing the programme’s continued success to President Bola Tinubu’s support and describing it as a key driver of Nigeria’s soft-power diplomacy.
The Director-General of NTAC, Hon. Yusuf Yakub, said this at a debriefing for the volunteers, where they shared their experiences, highlighted achievements, discussed challenges and made recommendations to strengthen the scheme.
Yakub said the successful completion of the volunteers’ two-year assignment demonstrated the impact of the Federal Government’s commitment to the programme across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries.
“I thank God for the safe return of the volunteers.
“It is another achievement for Nigeria because of the valuable experience they have gained.
“When you send experts abroad for two years and they return safely, we must give God the glory.
“We also appreciate President Bola Tinubu for the support he has given, not only to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NTAC, but also to Africa and the Black race,” he said.
According to him, NTAC has, over the past 38 years, deployed more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals to over 40 ACP countries without interruption.
He said the latest batch served at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) and Kabale University, where they impacted hundreds of students and contributed to community development.
Yakub particularly commended volunteers at Kabale University for raising funds to secure the release of an eight-month pregnant woman imprisoned over debt.
“They did more than the assignment government gave them. They undertook a humanitarian intervention, which reflects the spirit of service we expect from our volunteers.
“When they go abroad, they represent Nigeria. That is why they wear our national colours and the NTAC insignia,” he said.
The NTAC boss added that Nigerian volunteers currently serving in countries such as The Gambia occupy strategic academic positions, including Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Deans and Heads of Department.
He praised the volunteers for serving the country with distinction and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to deploying more Nigerian professionals to countries requiring technical assistance.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some of the volunteers described the programme as a valuable platform for promoting Nigeria’s image and strengthening South-South cooperation.
Prof. Peter Ozomba, an Associate Professor of Monetary and Afro-Regional Economics, who served at IUIU, said the deployment enabled him to extend his teaching, research and community service beyond Nigeria.
“It is a practical demonstration of bridging educational and professional gaps between developing countries.
“Nigeria has demonstrated leadership by supporting sister African countries. When you have more, you should give more.
“I am ready to serve again whenever my country calls,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Fadugba George, a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who served at Kabale University, recalled how the volunteers secured the release of the pregnant inmate during activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
“We visited the prison for fellowship and met an eight-month pregnant woman detained over debt.
“We contributed money among ourselves and secured her release,” he said.
George urged Nigeria to emulate Uganda’s commitment to agriculture and skills acquisition, noting that professionals, including university lecturers, actively engage in farming.
He also advocated adopting Uganda’s competency-based education curriculum, saying pupils acquire practical skills alongside formal education.
NAN reports that the volunteers commended the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NTAC leadership for sustaining the programme, describing it as an effective instrument for South-South cooperation and human capacity development.
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps was established in 1987 as an instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy to provide technical expertise to developing countries, particularly those in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)