The Director General Nigerian Technical Aid Corps NTA has called for stronger collaboration in advancing Nigerian Missions abroad.
The DG who describes Nigerian Missions Abroad as an oxygen that sustains the NTAC’s mandate, made the call in Abuja, while delivering a detailed presentation titled “Nigeria’s Technical Aid Policy: Role of Mission” to participants of the 26th Regular Course of the Foreign Service Academy at the Public Service Institute.
He reiterated the pivotal role of Nigeria’s missions abroad that played significant role in enhancing the implementation and global reach of the country’s Technical Aid Policy.
The DG outlines the framework and objectives of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme, designed as a strategic component of Nigeria’s foreign policy to strengthen South-South Cooperation, promote African and global solidarity, and project Nigeria’s image as a responsible global partner.
Mr. Buba Yakubu notes that “since its inception, the NTAC’s Scheme has continued to deploy highly skilled Nigerian professionals particularly in Education, Health, Agriculture, Engineering, and Legal Services—to requesting African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries on the basis of the assessed needs and request of those countries.
Active involvement
Buba emphasised that the success and sustainability of the Technical Aid Scheme to the ACP countries largely depend on the active involvement of Nigeria’s Diplomatic Missions.
He stressed that the missions served as the first point of contact with host countries, playing critical roles in identifying areas of need, liaising with partner governments, monitoring volunteers’ welfare, and ensuring alignment with national foreign policy objectives.
“Without the missions we cannot breathe.They initiate all the meetings we have in host countries and are part of them all.They follow up on decisions taken in those meetings and ensure that we keep a two-way track on developments between NTAC and the countries.”
“In fact,the Head of Chancery at the Mission and the Financial Attache are the only signatories to the NTAC Account in every recipient country we have TAC Volunteers,”Buba emphasised.
Aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as expressed in his 4-D Foreign Policy Thrust in Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora the DG reaffirmed that the Technical Aid Corps Scheme serves as a vital instrument of development diplomacy.
He said it would not only foster people-to-people connections but also strengthens institutional capacity in partner nations.
Mr Yakubu said it would also enhance Nigeria’s standing in the international community.
Nigerian narratives
The DG illustrates how Nigerian values and culture are positively shaping Nigerian narratives abroad.
He encouraged the foreign service trainees to embrace their future diplomatic roles with a clear understanding of the broader developmental impact of the nation’s technical aid policy, which he described as purely altruistic.
“As a Big-brother African country and emerging giant across the globe, our Missions must not only pursue traditional diplomacy but must also champion technical partnerships as part of our national interest abroad,” Buba stated.
Traditional Yoruba textile
The DG also shares the remarkable story of a TAC Volunteer, Mr.Lukman Omotayo Alao, deployed to Jamaica, who introduced the traditional Yoruba textile known as “Adire” to the country.
The DG explained that the Volunteer’s creativity and expertise captivated the Jamaican authorities to the extent that they coined a new name, Jadiren to reflect their admiration and local connection to the fabric.
“The authorities of the host country was so impressed, they simply renamed it “Jadire,” to reflect the “J” in the name “Jamaica” and went on to build a full-fledged industry for the textile product headed by Mr.Omotayo.”
DG NDTAC said it has spread the use and patronage of (J)adire today to as far as the United States, besides other Caribbean nations.
That is the power of what Technical Aid diplomacy or soft power achi.
While conveying his gratitude to the NTAC DG for his quick response to the invitation to share his rich experience, expertise and personal perspectives on the topic.
The Director of the Foreign Service Academy, Mr. Chimezie Ogu, lauded Mr. Buba’s passion, competence and the energy with which he drives the NTAC mandate and other activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for many years.
Gratitude for the opportunity
On behalf of the One Hundred and Seventy Six participants in the 26th Course of the Foreign Service Academy, Mr.Stanley Emmanuel, expressed his gratitude to for the opportunity given to them to participate in the course.
The presentation concluded with an engaging interactive session, allowing participants to ask questions and explore practical dimensions of Nigeria’s Technical Aid Policy and the roles being played by our missions abroad in its implementation.
The session underscored the need for enhanced synergy between NTAC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the nation’s Missions in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy goals through meaningful efforts that are committed to service-driven diplomacy.
Lateefah Ibrahim
Comments are closed.