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Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS Visits NTAC DG: Discusses Regional Collaboration and Scheme Expansion

July 25, 2025

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Musa Nuhu, paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Yusuf Buba Yakub, at the NTAC Headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between NTAC and ECOWAS, with emphasis on expanding Nigeria’s Technical Assistance across West Africa.

Ambassador Nuhu described the visit as a homecoming, having served twice at NTAC. He praised the scheme as a strategic “sub-power” tool for projecting Nigeria’s soft power and values. He highlighted the importance of extending the TAC scheme beyond West Africa, referencing President Tinubu’s recognition of NTAC during ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary.

In response, the Director-General welcomed the visit as significant and reaffirmed NTAC’s commitment to regional engagement. He noted Nigeria currently has volunteers in about six ECOWAS countries, and emphasized that a pending amendment to the NTAC Act would enable broader collaboration with international organizations. He assured the Ambassador of NTAC’s ongoing efforts, especially in Francophone countries.

Ambassador Saidu Dahiru Muhammad, Deputy Director, Administration, commended the DG’s inclusive leadership and highlighted NTAC’s role in enhancing Nigeria’s image abroad. Mr. Fehintola Adebowale Oyeyemi, Assistant Director, Programmes, also praised the DG’s visionary leadership and underscored the importance of personal diplomatic relationships, especially in Francophone engagement.

Also present were Mrs. Hafsatu Garba Abdulkadir, Minister, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to ECOWAS; Mr. Falusi, Minister-Counsellor, Programmes NTAC, Mr. Lawandy Bala, Special Assistant (Protocol) to the DG; and Head, Information and Public Relations,Mrs. Ojo A. Olubunmi.

The meeting ended on a shared resolve to deepen regional integration and promote Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy through the NTAC scheme with an agreement on a special session to brief ECOWAS Honorary Representatives on the scheme, hopeful of a strategic brainstorming session with the ECOWAS Secretariat.