Press Releases

NTAC DG Marks Two Years in Office, Commends President Tinubu’s 4D Policy for Revitalizing Nigeria’s Soft Power Diplomacy

September 26, 2025

NTAC DG, Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub (m) and the Directors of Administration and Programmes, Ambassador Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed and Ambassador Usman Zakari are here flanked on both sides by members of Management and staff of NTAC as the Agency marked the 2nd Year Anniversary of the DG's Assumption of Office at the Agency on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Abuja.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, today held a Media Chat in Abuja at the NTAC complex to mark his two years in office, highlighting the milestones, challenges, and future vision of the agency under his stewardship.

In his remarks, the DG began by thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, noting that since his appointment on August 23, 2023, and resumption on August 28, 2023, he has “hit the ground running” in line with the President’s directives.

Reflecting on the state of NTAC when he assumed duty, the DG said he inherited 198 volunteers already in service, alongside significant financial challenges, including unpaid salaries and a ₦300 million debt. He recalled that currency fluctuations in 2024 had threatened deployments, but, buoyed by the President’s support, the Corps cleared its debts and resumed steady deployments. “From September 2023 till date, we have been deploying 2–3 times every month nonstop,” he said, adding that Nigeria has since maintained a steady global presence.

The DG emphasized the central role of President Tinubu’s 4D foreign policy agenda—Democracy, Demography, Diaspora, and Development—in transforming NTAC. He described the scheme as an instrument of soft power diplomacy that has, for 38 years, sent over 10,000 Nigerian experts to more than 40 countries. “Today, NTAC is at its highest peak since inception because of the President’s 4D agenda,” he affirmed.

Highlighting success stories, the DG noted that some Nigerian volunteers in The Gambia have risen to become Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors in leading universities. “This shows that Nigeria’s vibrant demography is not just being exported but is shaping global development,” he said.

He also revealed infrastructure reforms within NTAC, including renovation of dilapidated offices and acquisition of new buses for operations—initiatives he kick-started with personal funds before federal budgetary support came through. “By the end of October 2025, we will have 450 volunteers in service, meeting 90% of our target,” he announced.

Looking ahead, Rt. Hon. Buba unveiled plans to reposition NTAC as a hub for both soft power diplomacy and labor export. He explained that while volunteers continue to serve freely under the TAC scheme, the Corps is exploring opportunities to export skilled Nigerian manpower on a commercial basis, in collaboration with host governments and international bodies like the International Organization for Migration (IOM). He cited Jamaica’s request for 400 paid experts as evidence of the demand for Nigeria’s human capital.

During the interactive session, he reiterated that NTAC aligns fully with the President’s foreign policy pillars. “When we send volunteers, we contribute to development; when they engage with Nigerians abroad, they reinforce the diaspora pillar. Our work is a practical expression of the 4D vision,” he stressed.

The DG concluded by charging Nigerian youths to see NTAC as a platform not only for service but also for personal growth and national pride. “We are not just sending out volunteers; we are raising leaders who will come back to build Nigeria,” he declared.

The media chat ended with group photographs, symbolizing NTAC’s renewed commitment to service, accountability, and Nigeria’s global leadership through soft power diplomacy.