The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has deployed more than 10 thousand Nigerian professionals to over 40 countries since its establishment in 1987, reinforcing Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy and strengthening technical cooperation with developing nations across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Director-General of the agency disclosed this during a briefing to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, on the achievements of the scheme and its alignment with the Federal Government’s foreign policy objectives.
He explained that NTAC was created as an instrument of Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy to provide technical assistance and professional expertise to developing countries through the deployment of skilled Nigerian volunteers. Rather than offering direct financial assistance, the agency focuses on sharing human capital and expertise to promote sustainable development and deepen South-South cooperation.
According to him, the scheme recruits experienced Nigerian professionals in sectors such as education, health, engineering, agriculture, information and communications technology and public administration, among others, to serve in partner countries for two years under bilateral agreements.
He said the programme has over the years facilitated the transfer of knowledge in critical sectors, contributing to institutional strengthening and improved public service delivery in beneficiary countries.
The Director-General noted that many serving and former NTAC volunteers have advanced to occupy senior academic and administrative positions in foreign institutions, including vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors in universities in countries such as The Gambia and Uganda.
He added that the impact of the scheme was further demonstrated when a Nigerian Technical Aid Corps volunteer was appointed by the Sierra Leonean government to chair the country’s COVID-19 management, describing it as a reflection of the confidence recipient nations have in Nigerian professionals.
The agency currently has 274 volunteers serving in 13 countries, including The Gambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Benin Republic, Jamaica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Guinea-Bissau, Seychelles, Zanzibar and Equatorial Guinea.
The NTAC boss further revealed that the agency was expanding its international footprint in response to growing demand for Nigerian professionals, particularly in the health sector.
He disclosed that discussions with Jamaica had reached an advanced stage for the engagement of a large number of Nigerian health professionals whose salaries would be fully funded by the Jamaican government.
He also said negotiations for Technical Aid Corps agreements with Zambia, Ethiopia, Angola, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados were nearing completion, adding that the new partnerships would further strengthen Nigeria’s bilateral relations and expand the country’s technical diplomacy.
According to him, the agency has also revitalised previously inactive partnerships with countries including Rwanda, Jamaica, Seychelles and Zanzibar, while recent engagements with Caribbean nations have opened new opportunities for Nigerian professionals.
Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said the ministry was undergoing comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning it for more efficient service delivery in line with its constitutional mandate.
She stressed the need for stronger public diplomacy, noting that despite the significant contributions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NTAC to Nigeria’s international engagement, many citizens remained largely unaware of their achievements.
The minister said the ongoing reforms were designed to improve the effectiveness of the ministry and its agencies while ensuring that Nigeria’s foreign policy institutions become more responsive to contemporary diplomatic and development challenges.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening institutions that project Nigeria’s influence abroad, describing NTAC as one of the country’s most enduring instruments for promoting goodwill, capacity building and mutually beneficial partnerships with other developing nations.