The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, NTAC has concluded a high-level diplomatic tour of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Barbados, advancing Nigeria’s commitment to South-South Cooperation under the foreign policy agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NTAC, Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub, Nkem Anyata-Lafia, noted that the engagement aligns with Nigeria’s national development priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, which seeks to promote economic growth, human capital development, and international cooperation.
Dr. Yakub said that the visits also marked a significant step in consolidating “Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in the Caribbean and reinforces the country’s leadership role in advancing South-South Cooperation through practical, impactful, and development-oriented initiatives”.
In the Port of Spain, the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago, the Director General held a strategic bilateral engagement with the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs led by the Minister, Sean Sobers.
The discussions focused on deepening collaboration in technical assistance, capacity building, education, healthcare as well as cultural exchange.
Dr. Yakub said all the engagements align with “Nigeria’s goal of promoting solidarity and sustainable development across the Global South”.
The Nigerian delegation visited St. George’s, the capital city of Grenada, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Andall, who commended the positive impact of the NTAC Scheme in Grenada and reaffirmed Grenada’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Nigeria.
The delegation also met with the Permanent Secretary of the country’s Ministry of Health, Ms. Rhonda Ross to explore expanded cooperation in healthcare delivery and technical assistance.
In Barbados, the NTAC Director General met with the Minister of Educational Transformation, Training and Tertiary Education as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, with the aim at deepening institutional partnerships, enhancing capacity building and fostering mutual, beneficial cooperation between Nigeria and Barbados with technical assistance and capacity building as primary focus.
Dr. Yakub emphasized Nigeria’s sustained commitment to South-South Cooperation through NTAC’s deployment of skilled Nigerian professionals for human capital development and strengthening institutions.
He noted the interest of the countries in Nigeria’s Nollywood films, attires, fashion as well as agriculture and animal husbandry.
The Director General assured the Barbados ministers of “Nigeria’s readiness to provide technical expertise and knowledge exchange to address shared challenges in the health sector and other identified gaps”.
The Nigerian-foreign- policy advancement tour directly supports President Tinubu’s mandate to expand Nigeria’s diplomatic reach and foster shared prosperity across the African, Caribbean and the Pacific countries.
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps continues to serve as Nigeria’s flagship vehicle for deploying professionals and building strategic partnerships in key sectors across the Global South.
The Scheme promotes South-South Cooperation, human capital development, and strengthening of institutions.
