By Maureen Okon
Dr Yusuf Yakub, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), says President Bola Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy has revitalised the Corps, with Nigerian volunteers making significant academic and professional impact across Africa.
Yakub said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the debriefing of 25 Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers who returned from Sierra Leone and The Gambia after completing 24 months of service.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the volunteers served in various academic and professional institutions under the TAC scheme.
According to Yakub, the programme had declined before 2023 but has regained momentum under the Tinubu administration.
“Two years ago, we sent you out, and today God has brought you back safely. I thank President Tinubu for making this possible through the 4D Foreign Policy initiative, which has re-energised the TAC programme,” he said.
Yakub said Nigeria’s contributions to host countries had earned widespread recognition, citing his recent attendance at the convocation of the University of Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in The Gambia.
He said President of The Gambia asked him to convey his appreciation to President Tinubu, describing Nigeria as a “senior brother” whose support continued to strengthen bilateral relations.
According to him, Nigerian professionals currently serve as vice-chancellors, deputy vice-chancellors, deans and directors in universities across The Gambia, including the University of Technology and the University of Education.
He said the recent graduation of 951 engineers in the country reflected the contributions of Nigerian lecturers, administrators and academic leaders deployed through the TAC scheme.
Yakub also said that in Sierra Leone, a Nigerian volunteer authored a nursing practice compendium that had been adopted by the government for nationwide use, while several other volunteers received awards for outstanding service.
He said the performance of Nigerian volunteers had prompted repeated requests from host governments to retain them permanently.
“These countries have been asking us to allow the volunteers to remain because of the impact they are making. Some ministers even wrote directly to us requesting that they stay.
“But our policy requires them to return home and transfer the knowledge and experience they have acquired to institutions in Nigeria,” he said.
Yakub said NTAC, established in 1987 as an instrument of Nigeria’s soft-power diplomacy, had deployed more than 10,000 professionals to over 40 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
“This is the season of returns and new deployments. We will continue to support our fellow Black nations across the world,” he said.
The NTAC boss commended the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, for her support and urged the returning volunteers to apply the knowledge and experience gained abroad to national development.
He also announced plans to integrate civil society organisations into NTAC programmes to deepen public awareness of the Corps’ mandate.
Speaking, President of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) of Nigeria, Chief Dominic Ogakwu, commended Yakub’s leadership, describing him as a knowledgeable and pragmatic administrator.
Ogakwu said Yakub’s previous experience in the National Assembly, particularly in international relations and foreign affairs, had positively influenced his leadership of NTAC.
According to him, one of Yakub’s major achievements was repositioning the Corps as a truly Nigerian project.
“You can see the testimonies of the volunteers and the impact they have made.
“As civil society organisations, we will continue to advocate for greater recognition of Nigeria’s contributions within the international community,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)