By Maureen Okon
The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has described the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) as a strategic initiative for rebuilding Nigeria’s image abroad and demonstrating the country’s leadership role in Africa.
The President of the group, Chief Dominic Ogakwu, said this at the debriefing exercise for 14 volunteers who returned from Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau after their 24-month service to humanity.
According to Ogakwu, this is one strategic initiative geared towards laundering the image of Nigerians.
“Our image has been battered across the world in so many places and there is no amount of image laundry that will be enough.
“I believe that NTAC’s initiative is laudable to bridge both educational and professional gaps in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries.
“Nigeria is Big Brother Africa in practice and the scheme proves that Nigeria’s status as the giant of Africa is not just in name,” he said.
He called for increased investment from both government and the private sector to expand the number of volunteers deployed.
“Image laundry is one of the most expensive things to do. We need more investment in this sector.
“Even the private sector should come in and fund three, four, five volunteers as a way of stimulating the image and protecting the rights of Nigerians across the globe,” he said.
Ogakwu said that in previous deployments, Nigerians took over key positions abroad, including one volunteer who was appointed Vice-Chancellor of a university.
“Nigerians are very smart people. Nigerians are very intelligent people. Nigerians are leaders, and this is demonstrated through these volunteers,” he said.
He urged patriotic Nigerians and corporate bodies to support the expansion of the scheme, saying in the final analysis, it is Nigeria that stands to benefit in the whole arrangement.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the volunteers recounted their experiences in Guinea-Bissau and lauded Nigeria’s rich human capital.
Dr Abdullah Isah, one of the returned TAC volunteers, said the deployment to Guinea-Bissau was his first trip outside Nigeria.
“I realised that Nigeria is actually second to none in Africa based on educational system, development, culture, everything,” he said.
He described Guinea-Bissau as one of the poorest countries in Africa, adding that the team had to adapt to challenges including poor infrastructure.
Also, he added that language was a barrier, as Portuguese was the official language.
Dr Nkiruka Uche, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist from the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, lauded the TAC initiative and praised President Bola Tinubu and NTAC boss for the opportunity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NTAC is domiciled under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It deploys skilled Nigerian professionals to ACP countries at the request of host governments to provide technical assistance in health, education, and other sectors.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Kadiri Abdulrahman