- Nurses to Jamaica, doctors to Grenada July 9
Four Nigerian nurses are set to depart for Jamaica this week as part of a renewed push by the Federal Government to export skilled manpower across Africa and the Caribbean under the revitalised Technical Aid Corps (TAC) programme.
This development comes on the heels of a landmark Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement signed between Nigeria and Saint Lucia, formalising a framework for the deployment of Nigerian professionals to the Eastern Caribbean nation.
The agreement, signed on Wednesday at the Ministry of External Affairs in Castries, Saint Lucia, was concluded between the Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, and Janelle Modeste-Stephen, Acting Permanent Secretary in Saint Lucia’s Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs.
Describing the pact as “a significant milestone,” Yakub said it aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed foreign policy thrust anchored on democracy, development, diaspora engagement, and demography, popularly referred to as the 4D policy.
“This is an outstanding achievement, coming just days after Mr. President’s directive to deepen ties with Saint Lucia and the wider Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS),” Yakub stated.
The agreement enables Nigeria to send technical volunteers, medical personnel, teachers, agriculturists, and other skilled professionals on two-year assignments. While the Nigerian government will fund their allowances and logistics, host countries are expected to provide accommodation and on-ground support.
The initiative is part of a broader cultural and educational exchange framework unveiled by President Tinubu during his address to the Saint Lucian Parliament earlier this week.
“These students who benefit from Nigerian scholarships will have a chance to reconnect with their ancestral roots,” Yakub added, highlighting the diaspora and heritage dimensions of the programme.
Since May 2023, over 300 Nigerian professionals have been deployed to various countries across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Recent deployments include Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Jamaica, with six Nigerian medical doctors scheduled to leave for Grenada on July 9.
Beyond traditional diplomacy, Yakub emphasised that the TAC programme is evolving into a revenue-generating and soft power tool.
He revealed that Jamaica has formally requested 400 Nigerian experts and is prepared to compensate them, underscoring growing demand for Nigerian human capital.
“Instead of importing manpower from Asia, they are turning to Nigeria. We are exporting human capital with dignity while creating opportunities for our people,” he said.
Yakub also pointed to the growing cultural impact of Nigerian professionals abroad. “One of our experts in Jamaica introduced Adire, now known there as Jadire, which is locally produced and exported to the United States,” he said.
He concluded that the renewed TAC initiative reflects Nigeria’s aspiration to lead within the Global South, combining technical assistance, professional development, and cultural diplomacy.
“This programme is more than just technical support, it is a symbol of Nigeria’s global engagement, influence, and solidarity with historically connected nations.”
