Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and stakeholders in Abuja have commended the Federal Government for its sustained support for the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), describing the Agency as a model of performance, integrity and accountability in public service.
The commendation was made at a one-day Leadership Accountability Forum and Stakeholders’ Engagement between Civil Society Organisations and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), held on Tuesday in Abuja.
The forum, which focused on NTAC’s mandate, achievements and service delivery, culminated in the presentation of a Certificate of Distinguished Performance to the Director-General of the Agency, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub.
Speaking at the event, the President of the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic Ogakwu, whose organisation facilitated the programme, said NTAC had, over the last three years of the Tinubu Administration, recorded remarkable growth in its impact and international reach across the Global South.
He explained that an independent assessment conducted by the coalition found that NTAC had met and surpassed established benchmarks for transparency, efficiency, accountability and service delivery, making the Agency deserving of national recognition.
Presenting a paper titled, “X-raying the Achievements, Challenges and Prospects of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) in Achieving Nigeria’s Role in Sustaining International Cooperation and Technical Assistance Through Soft Power Diplomacy,” the Director-General of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for repositioning the Agency through the Administration’s 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative.
The Director-General, who attended the event alongside members of the Agency’s Management and staff, stated that the unwavering support of President Tinubu since his appointment three years ago had enabled NTAC to deepen Nigeria’s diplomatic footprint across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific regions.
According to him, the remarkable transformation of NTAC had continued to attract international recognition from organisations such as the United Nations, the African Union and several Heads of State. He also disclosed that Nigeria’s recent admission into the Steering Committee of the Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD), a 28-member international organisation, was a direct consequence of the global recognition earned through the success of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps.
Among the officials are the Director (Programmes), NTAC, Amb. Bello A. Jaiye, and Comrade Ogakwu Dominic Ogakwu, President of the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, facilitators of the programme.
Highlighting the achievements of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps Volunteers serving in various host countries, Rt. Hon. Buba Yakub noted that their outstanding performances had reinforced the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining the Technical Aid Corps Scheme despite prevailing domestic challenges.
He stressed that the programme remained a cost-effective instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy, explaining that every naira invested in the Scheme was paid directly to Nigerian professionals deployed abroad, while host countries bear the costs of accommodation, transportation and utility services.
According to him, the arrangement continues to strengthen Nigeria’s influence, goodwill and leadership across the Global South through soft power diplomacy.
The forum also featured a presentation titled “Leveraging Civil Society Organisations’ Partnerships and Advocacy in Promoting, Advancing and Sustaining South-South Cooperation and Development,” delivered by Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, Executive Director of one of the collaborating Civil Society Organisations.
In his presentation, Comrade Jacob examined the strategic role Civil Society Organisations can play in supporting NTAC’s mandate, while outlining practical areas of collaboration between government institutions and non-state actors to deepen South-South cooperation and sustainable development.
The event also featured goodwill messages and interventions from leaders of various Civil Society Organisations, who unanimously applauded the Agency’s achievements and pledged continued partnership in advancing transparency, accountability and national development.
The programme concluded with the presentation of the official NTAC plaque to the organisers, the presentation of the Certificate of Distinguished Performance to the Director-General of NTAC, and a group photograph to commemorate the occasion.
August 4, 2026
Ojo A. Olubunmi, anipr
Head, Information & Public Relations,
Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC)
