Reported by Charles Aku Edibo
The Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has outlined the achievements of the agency over the past two years, declaring that the Corps has “remained a strong instrument of Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy” under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja to mark his two-year stewardship, following his appointment on August 28, 2023, the NTAC boss said the Corps has recorded “tangible and intangible impacts” in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy goals through technical assistance, volunteer deployment, and strengthened bilateral engagements.
Founded in 1987 during the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, NTAC was established to provide technical support to African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. The DG recalled that Nigeria’s longstanding tradition of offering assistance to nations in need was institutionalized through the agency, which has since become a model of South-South cooperation recognized by the United Nations.
Ten Strategic Pillars
The DG highlighted ten strategic pillars that guided NTAC’s operations over the review period. These included bilateral visits and engagements, volunteer deployment, inter-agency collaboration, media and public relations, stakeholder engagement, institutional memory preservation, accountability initiatives, and staff welfare reforms.
“Our work may not be visible in concrete terms like roads and bridges,” he noted, “but its impact on diplomacy, security, and development is no less significant.”
Key Achievements
Among the notable milestones recorded since August 2023 are:
Volunteer Deployments: 396 Nigerian professionals were deployed to countries including Liberia, The Gambia, Uganda, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Tanzania, Seychelles, Benin Republic, and Jamaica. These volunteers served in fields such as medicine, law, education, and engineering.
Return and Debriefing: 140 volunteers successfully completed their service and were debriefed, with many receiving commendations from host governments.
Bilateral Engagements: The Corps engaged with 15 countries through high-level visits, including The Gambia, Jamaica, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Equatorial Guinea, and several Caribbean and Pacific states.
Institutional Reforms: Rehabilitation of NTAC’s Abuja headquarters, installation of ICT infrastructure, staff training, creation of a staff clinic, and improved welfare systems were undertaken.
Strategic Partnerships: Renewed collaborations were secured with the UNDP, Islamic Development Bank, West African Health Organization (WAHO), and various universities across Africa and the Caribbean.
Media and Public Relations: A new NTAC website was launched, alongside documentaries, press briefings, and quarterly in-house publications under the Dateline NTAC magazine.
The DG also highlighted the creation of an 11-man Committee on the Repositioning of NTAC, chaired by Prof. David Zoaka of the University of Abuja, tasked with aligning the Corps with global best practices and exploring revenue-generation avenues.
Challenges and Outlook
He acknowledged challenges such as funding constraints and delays in volunteer allowances but stressed that the Corps had innovatively managed resources, repaired existing infrastructure, and secured support from partners.
The DG paid tribute to fallen volunteers and staff, including the late Ms. Abibetu Ali, while also expressing gratitude to President Tinubu for his “confidence and trust” in appointing him to lead the Corps.
Performance Summary
According to official figures released:
Total Volunteers Deployed: 396
Returned Volunteers: 140
Countries Visited for Bilateral Engagements: 15
Awaiting Deployment: 114
