The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has urged seven Nigerian volunteers who completed their two-year assignments at Makerere University, Uganda, to apply the knowledge, skills and international experience acquired abroad to strengthen their respective institutions and contribute to national development.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NTAC, Dr Yusuf Yakub, gave the charge when he received the returning volunteers during a debriefing exercise at the NTAC Complex, Abuja.
In a statement by the NTAC Head of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Ojo Olubunmi, the exercise provided an opportunity to review the volunteers’ experiences, assess their achievements and identify ways of translating the expertise acquired during their assignments into tangible benefits for their institutions and Nigeria.
Yakub, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Programme 2, Mr Felix Obidi, congratulated the volunteers on the successful completion of their assignments and commended their dedication, professionalism and exemplary conduct, which he said had continued to project Nigeria positively.
He urged them to “transfer the knowledge, skills and international exposure acquired at Makerere University to their respective institutions and the wider Nigerian society,” describing the returnees as veterans of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme.
Yakub likened their international experience to that of fishes that had explored wider waters, stressing that their exposure should distinguish them professionally and intellectually and better position them to contribute to national development.
“You are no longer just returning volunteers; you are veterans of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps. We expect you to bring back the knowledge and experience you have acquired at Makerere University and share them with your respective institutions. You are foreign fishes, and we expect more from you,” he stressed.
The Director-General further assured the returnees that their expertise would remain valuable to NTAC and the country, while expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for the scheme.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, towards sustaining the programme.
Earlier, the NTAC Director of Programmes, Ambassador Bello Jaiye, represented by the Senior Counsellor, Mrs Hauwa Arabu Mustafa, congratulated the volunteers on their successful return and acknowledged their contributions to academic development and the promotion of South-South cooperation.
In his remarks, the Team Leader of the returning volunteers, Professor Abdul Isah, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Government and NTAC for the opportunity to serve at Makerere University, describing the assignment as a rewarding professional experience.
He commended the university’s management and staff for their warm reception, friendly disposition, professional support, and adequate teaching and learning facilities.
One returning volunteer, Professor Alo Olubisi, highlighted her achievements during the assignment, including securing a Research and Innovation Grant at Makerere University.
Olubisi explained that she initially had reservations about her eligibility as a Nigerian but was encouraged by her Head of Department to apply, an opportunity that eventually resulted in a successful grant award.
She disclosed that the assignment had enhanced her teaching methodologies, lecture preparation and delivery, while providing opportunities for professional growth and research collaboration.
She also highlighted her role in facilitating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Makerere University and her institution in Nigeria, which she said had reached an advanced stage.
The debriefing exercise provided an opportunity for the returning volunteers to share their experiences, achievements, challenges and recommendations, which would serve as valuable input towards strengthening the implementation of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme.
The successful completion of the assignments further underscored the importance of the scheme in promoting professional exchange, strengthening institutional partnerships and ensuring that international exposure translated into meaningful contributions to national development.
With more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals deployed to beneficiary countries over the years, the scheme continues to demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to human capital development, international cooperation and the strategic deployment of its professional expertise as an instrument of development diplomacy.
Established in 1987, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps remains an instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy and South-South cooperation, deploying skilled Nigerian professionals to countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to provide technical assistance, promote knowledge exchange and strengthen international partnerships.
