The Director-General/CEO of the Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has reaffirmed the Agency’s strategic role in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy through technical cooperation, capacity building, and South-South cooperation.
The DG made this known during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he briefed the Minister on NTAC’s mandate, achievements, reforms, and future direction.
He highlighted the significant transformation of the Agency since assuming office in August 2023, including the clearance of outstanding volunteer salary arrears, resumption of volunteer deployments, extensive rehabilitation of the NTAC Complex, provision of operational vehicles, and the revitalisation and expansion of bilateral technical cooperation with partner countries.
According to him, these reforms have restored confidence in Nigeria’s Technical Aid Scheme, with 229 Nigerian volunteers currently serving in 13 countries, contributing expertise in education, healthcare, engineering, agriculture, ICT, and other critical sectors.
The DG also referenced the impact of NTAC volunteers abroad, including the successful introduction of Nigeria’s indigenous Adire textile in Jamaica, which has inspired local production known as “Jadire”, as well as the development of key policy and educational documents for partner countries.
The Honourable Minister commended the DG and NTAC management for repositioning the Agency and urged it to accelerate initiatives that would facilitate the deployment of Nigerian professionals, particularly nurses, to countries seeking their expertise.
He further encouraged NTAC to pursue structured labour mobility agreements, noting that such arrangements would create legitimate opportunities for Nigerian professionals while helping to curb irregular migration.
The Minister also charged NTAC to intensify its public communication and visibility, stressing that the Agency’s achievements must be effectively documented and projected through documentaries, traditional media, and digital platforms.
He aptly captured the importance of visibility with the words: “If you are a good dancer dancing in a locked room, you are only exercising. The beauty of dancing is when people see and appreciate it.”
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NTAC to deepen technical cooperation, expand opportunities for Nigerian professionals abroad, and further position the Agency as a strategic instrument of Nigeria’s soft power and global engagement.
Ojo Adetoun Olubunmi,anipr
Head, Information & Public Relations,
Nigerian Technical Aid Corps(NTAC)
30th July, 2026
