The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has pledged to support all efforts aimed at realizing President Tinubu’s foreign policy objectives using the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps Scheme.
Amb.Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who revealed the above over the weekend during a special session with the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub and the entire Management of the Agency at the Ministry headquarters in Abuja, commended President Tinubu for making the right choice of Leadership at the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps.
She said: “Since I resumed here as Minister, I have through several contacts with you been exposed to the very wonderful work you have been doing at the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps since you were appointed by H.E. Mr. President in August 2023.
“Apart from proving yourself as one who has the necessary contacts to make things better, using the goodwill you have built over the years as a highly respected former lawmaker, which I personally saw during the Ministry’s budget defense exercise at the National Assembly, you have leveraged all that goodwill to foist a new narrative on the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, which before your coming on board as DG was more or less becoming moribund.
“I thank you for the energy and commitment you have demonstrated as a leader and I would like to say that we will offer you all the support you deserve to achieve Mr. President’s noble vision for our great country using the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps Scheme.”
Earlier, while presenting what he termed “an abridged version of his stewardship at NTAC” in the past one-and-half years of his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NTAC DG said he had hit the ground running on his first day in office by pursuing the foreign policy components of President Tinubu ‘s Renewed Hope Agenda and his 4-D Initiative at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He highlighted that on his first day in office he had played host to the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of The Gambia, Prof. Perez Gomez with whom he had discussed development co-operation, which has since then birthed many benefits for Nigeria and The Gambia, including having a Nigerian Professor of Engineering, Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde, a TAC Volunteer, as the current Vice Chancellor of the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in that country.
Buba,who also informed that three other Nigerian academics also head various Directorates alongside Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde in the same Gambian University, said the Gambian experience was just a small part of the giant strides the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps has continued to make across the world under his humble stewardship.
The former federal lawmaker also expressed optimism that, with the current arrangements at hand, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps would soon commence revenue generation for the country by exporting Nigeria’s abundant technical and artisanal skills in a respectful manner that is expected to attract forex for the country.
While also applauding the efforts and support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, for the programmes and activities of NTAC, the former federal lawmaker also revealed that Amb. Tuggar had aided the current arrangements for the export of the nation’s abundant skilled labour for gainful engagement abroad and pointed out that the labour deal held so much for many highly qualified Nigerians in diverse fields and sectors of life who will be assisted to migrate in a regular and dignified manner.
The session of the NTAC Management and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs was part of the activities earmarked for the familiarization of the Minister with Agencies and Departments under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Among those who attended the session were the Director of Administration at NTAC, Amb.Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed; the Director of Programmes, Amb. Zakari Usman as well as the Deputy Director of Administration, Ambassador Saidu Muhammed. Others include: the Deputy Director and Head of Accounts, Mrs Meimunat Haruna-Mustapha, Mr. Adekola Lawal, an Assistant Director in-charge of Internal Audit and Mr. Debo Fehintola, an Assistant Director in the Programmes Department of the Agency among many others.
On the side of the Minister were the Director in-charge of the Office of the Honourable Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Innocent Iwejuo, the Assistant Director in the office as well as many other senior staff of the Ministry.
Signed
Ojo A. Olubunmi
Head Information & Public Relations (NTAC)
