The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, NTAC, Dr. Yusuf Yakub, has commended President Bolad Tinubu for his continuous support to the agency through the 4D’s Foreign Policy initiative of the Nigerian government.
The Director General made the commendation during briefing and Orientation of 10 Nigerian volunteers ahead of their deployment to the Republic of Sierra Leone for a two-year assignment under the Technical Aid Corps Programme.
The briefing was organised to prepare the volunteers for their professional responsibilities and acquaint them with the expectations, requirements and responsibilities of representing Nigeria in their host country.
READ ALSO: Foreign Affairs Ministry, NTAC Push for Public Diplomacy
The NTAC Director-General, Dr. Yakub, appreciated the Nigerian government for its continued support for the Technical Aid Corps Programme and commended the volunteers for their willingness to serve Nigeria and humanity beyond the country’s borders.
Dr. Yakub charged the volunteers to see their assignment as an opportunity to serve humanity, contribute to the development of their host country and promote Nigeria’s image abroad.
He reminded the volunteers that they would not be going to Sierra Leone merely as professionals, but as representatives and ambassadors of Nigeria, stressing the importance of character, discipline, humility and professionalism.
“You are going out as Nigerians, and you are going out not just as a Nigerian, but as Nigeria. We are sending Nigeria out there,” the Director General stated.
He urged the volunteers to focus on their strengths and expertise, rather than their limitations, while maintaining a high standard of professional conduct throughout their two-year assignment.
“Leave your weaknesses behind and go with your strengths. Serve with humility, discipline and professionalism, and make Nigeria proud,” he said.
Dr. Yakub explained that the Technical Aid Corps Programme remains an important instrument of Nigeria’s soft-power diplomacy and South-South cooperation, through which Nigerian professionals are deployed to partner countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to share their expertise, technical knowledge and human resources.
He noted that previous NTAC volunteers had made significant contributions in their host countries, with some attaining senior professional and academic positions, including Vice-Chancellorship and Deputy Vice-Chancellorship positions in The Gambia.
He expressed confidence that the Sierra Leone-bound volunteers would uphold Nigeria’s reputation and build on the achievements of those who had served before them.
Welfare
On Volunteers’ welfare, the Director-General assured the volunteers that NTAC would fulfil its responsibilities regarding applicable allowances, travel arrangements and other entitlements in accordance with the terms of their deployment.
He added that “accommodation, utilities and transportation to and from their places of work would be provided by the beneficiary country in line with the deployment arrangements”.
Earlier, the Director of Programmes, Mr Bello Jaye, welcomed the volunteers and commended the Director-General for his continued support for the activities of the Programmes Department.
Jaye disclosed that the volunteers had successfully undergone the required selection and interview processes and wished them a safe journey and a successful tour of duty in Sierra Leone.
Speaking on behalf of the volunteers, the team lead, Professor Moses Zaruwa, expressed appreciation to the management of NTAC for the opportunity to serve Nigeria abroad and assured that the team would work together diligently and make the country proud.
The briefing was followed by a technical orientation session facilitated by NTAC resource persons and relevant officials, during which the volunteers received further guidance on their assignments, professional conduct, welfare arrangements and other practical aspects of their deployment.
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps remains committed to deploying competent Nigerian professionals to partner countries and strengthening Nigeria’s contribution to international technical cooperation through the sharing of expertise and technical know-how.
The Corps is designed to reflect the ideology of Nigeria’s foreign policy, placing Africa at the center with extension to developing nations across the world.
NTAC is taking bigger steps to extend beyond the frontiers of Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific countries.
