Raphael Oni
The Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Mr. Yusuf Yakub, has announced that the agency is evolving into a revenue-generating entity. This transformation is driven by the demand for Nigerian expertise in foreign lands, with countries like Jamaica requesting 400 experts from Nigeria who will be fully paid for their services.
Yakub highlighted that this development not only generates revenue for the country but also addresses the issue of unemployment. “Countries have started to ask for our expertise for a fee, and that will generate revenue for our country and eliminate unemployment,” he said. The Attorney General of the Federation is working on a new agreement to facilitate this process.
The NTAC DG emphasized that Nigeria will start exporting its labor with dignity to all parts of the world, reducing the problem of unemployment. “In a couple of weeks, Nigeria will start exporting its labor with dignity, and the issue of unemployment will start to diminish,” he added.
Yakub charged the volunteering personnel deployed to Zanzibar, Tanzania, to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, showcasing the country’s soft power diplomacy. “The main target is to portray our name and image. That is soft power diplomacy,” he said.
The NTAC Scheme sends out experts in various fields, including professors and artisans, to share their knowledge and build partnerships with other countries. This initiative not only impacts the lives of people in recipient countries but also exposes Nigerian citizens to new environments, bringing back knowledge and experiences.
The Team Lead for the Volunteer group, Mohamed Jawad Jaffa, commended the government for providing the opportunity to serve humanity in a foreign land, pledging to be good ambassadors of Nigeria. Another volunteer, Mary Jane Okeze, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and promised to represent Nigeria properly.
The Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Scheme aims to strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties between Nigeria and other recipient nations. With its new revenue-generating model, the agency is poised to make a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy and international relations.
