By Maureen Okon
The Federal Government has deployed 18 skilled professionals under the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) to The Gambia as the programme marks 38 years of providing technical assistance to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
The Director-General of NTAC, Hon. Yusuf Yakub, said at a send-off ceremony for the volunteers in Abuja, that the programme remained one of Nigeria’s most enduring foreign policy initiatives.
Yakub described the intervention as a major achievement for Nigeria and the Black race, noting that more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals had been deployed to over 40 ACP countries since the scheme began 38 years ago.
“Over the past 38 years, we have deployed more than 10,000 experts to over 40 countries.
“This year alone, between now and November, we will deploy more than 15 batches of experts to different countries,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for sustaining and expanding the programme.
“Under his administration, the activities of NTAC have not only doubled but tripled because he has provided all the necessary support required.
“The deployment is in the spirit of South-South Cooperation and the vision of ‘One Africa’,” Yakub said.
He urged the volunteers to surpass the achievements of their predecessors and continue to uphold Nigeria’s reputation for excellence.
The NTAC boss cited reports from The Gambia showing that previous Nigerian volunteers had distinguished themselves, with some rising to positions such as vice-chancellors, deputy vice-chancellors and deans in higher institutions.
“Most of this batch are professors and highly experienced professionals. I am confident they will match, and even surpass, the performance of those who came before them.
“Our selection process is rigorous. This team comprises some of the best professors and engineers in the country,” he said.
Yakub added that the latest deployment reinforced Nigeria’s leadership in promoting human capital development across Africa.
Some of the volunteers, who spoke separately with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pledged to be worthy ambassadors of the country.
The team lead, Prof. Aliyu Bashir, described the opportunity as both an honour and a privilege, saying the volunteers were selected from more than 10,000 applicants.
“We are committed to upholding Nigeria’s good name in the discharge of our responsibilities.
“We may not be the best in the country, but due process was followed in our selection and we are confident in our ability to deliver. This is a call to do our best, and we will not disappoint,” he said.
The only female member of the team, Engr. Helen Babalola of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, described her selection as a challenge she was proud to accept.
“I am a civil engineer and I have worked mostly with men. We will work together to achieve the best possible results,” she said.
Babalola also thanked President Tinubu for sustaining the programme, which she said was almost inactive before his administration.
Another volunteer, Dr. Christopher Belonwu of Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, said the composition of the team reflected the abundance of talent across the country.
“I specialise in construction and Building Information Modelling (BIM), and I also serve as an external quality assurance manager. Beyond lecturing, I hope to contribute my expertise in ICT-driven construction and skills development,” he said.
NAN reports that the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps was established 38 years ago to deploy Nigerian professionals in education, health, engineering and other sectors to ACP countries as part of Nigeria’s foreign policy and technical assistance initiatives. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)