Ishaq Dalhat
In a significant move to bolster South-South cooperation, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has embarked on a series of high-level engagements in Tunisia, targeting expanded collaboration in education, arts, culture, and manpower development.
The delegation, led by NTAC Director-General Mr. Yusuf Yakub, met with officials from the Tunisian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Arts and Culture to solidify a framework for sustainable partnership.
The talks, held in Tunis, focused on identifying new areas for technical cooperation and reinforcing people-to-people ties between the two nations.
“This visit is pivotal to expanding our technical cooperation, exploring fresh frontiers in academic collaboration, creative industry development, and vocational skills enhancement,” Mr. Yakub stated.
He outlined the core objectives of the engagement, which include: deploying skilled Nigerian professionals to support Tunisia’s national development priorities, deepening technical exchange programmes to foster mutual growth through capacity building and cultural diplomacy, as well as strengthening cultural and educational ties as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship.
Mr. Yakub emphasized that the mission is a direct implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and its 4D Foreign Policy Doctrine.
He explained how the Tunisia engagement dovetails with the strategy’s pillars, including Fostering economic and technical cooperation, Leveraging Nigeria’s youthful population for expertise exchange, Engaging Nigerian professionals abroad as agents of development, and Promoting shared values of governance and regional stability.
“This visit underscores Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to promoting African solidarity and building sustainable partnerships that benefit the entire continent,” the Director-General added.
Tunisian officials lauded Nigeria’s leadership in advancing African integration and expressed a strong commitment to reciprocating the gesture.
Both parties have expressed interest in collaborating on specific projects in fields, including: Science and Technology, Engineering, Artisanal Skills, Medical Sciences
and Cultural Diplomacy
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps is Nigeria’s flagship program for South-South cooperation.
Established to share expertise and foster development, the scheme deploys skilled Nigerian professionals to partner with African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries, promoting knowledge transfer and strengthening international ties.