The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) says it is deploying 35 medical professionals to Zanzibar, Tanzania, to bridge both educational and professional gaps in the country.
Dr. Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General (DG) of NTAC, speaking at the deployment of the professionals—comprising nurses and doctors—on Tuesday in Abuja, said the exercise was in line with the agency’s mandate to send volunteers to African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries in need of professionals.
Yakub stated, “Today is a historic day for the Corps. In honour of the directive of President Bola Tinubu, and in line with soft power diplomacy, the Corps is sending 35 TAC volunteers to Zanzibar.”
Yakub, a former member of the House of Representatives, lauded the President for the support shown in enhancing Nigeria’s foreign policy to bridge gaps in countries in need of professionals.
He noted that as an agency tasked with promoting the country’s soft power diplomacy, NTAC aligns with the President’s D-4 foreign policy initiative.
“Before the establishment of NTAC in 1987, our leaders typically offered cash support to sister nations within the ACP countries. However, in 1987, they decided to send technical experts to these countries to enhance diplomatic relations and cultural exchange.
“Since then, I am proud to say that NTAC has achieved a lot. We have deployed experts to over 40 countries and have sent more than 10,000 professionals to ACP countries.
“This is a great achievement for our country. On Saturday, during a convocation ceremony in The Gambia, President Adama Barrow expressed pride and appreciation for Nigeria’s impact in his country.
“The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the only university in The Gambia was a TAC volunteer in 1999. The second VC was also a volunteer. These are just a few examples of NTAC’s impact there,” he added.
He emphasized that, in the spirit of South-South cooperation, African and other underdeveloped nations must support one another by sharing expertise to bridge development gaps.
Also speaking, Dr. Paul Cornelius, team lead for the 35 volunteers, praised the Federal Government for the initiative and pledged that the team would make the country proud by exceeding the achievements of their predecessors.
Similarly, Mohammed Ibrahim, a pediatric nurse, expressed gratitude to God for being among the 35 selected from over 10,000 applicants.
He prayed for the ability to fulfill their duties as requested and vowed to be a good ambassador of Nigeria in their host community.
Mary-Jane Okieze, a registered nurse, described the deployment as an opportunity for all the volunteers to showcase their skills and promote Nigeria abroad.
She commended the government and NTAC for the initiative and promised to carry out her duties diligently, adding that it would be an honour to care for the sick in Zanzibar.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Technical Aid Corps professionals deployed to Zanzibar will be lecturing and helping to fill professional gaps in their respective areas of assignment.
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