THE Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Dr Yusuf Buba Yakub, yesterday highlighted the agency’s strategic direction in advancing Nigeria’s international development cooperation and soft-power diplomacy.

Speaking at a function to present the achievements of the Corps, ongoing reforms and emerging opportunities under his leadership, he stressed that the reforms have repositioned the country as a major contributor to global development.

He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration provided the renewed policy direction and support for the revitalisation of NTAC, which has enabled the agency to expand technical cooperation, strengthen welfare of Nigerian volunteers, deepen South-South partnerships and explore new opportunities for the international deployment of Nigerian professionals.

He noted that NTAC, established in 1987, has deployed over 10,000 Nigerian professionals to over 40 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, contributing expertise in education, medicine, engineering, law, agriculture, science, technology and other fields.

Yakub explained that the Technical Aid Corps fits strategically into President Tinubu’s 4-D Foreign Policy framework of Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora, adding that he has deployed a complementary 3-R agenda of Repositioning, Retooling and Re-engineering, to strengthen the agency’s relevance and service delivery.

According to him, the deployment of professionals abroad promotes development in partner countries, strengthens human capital through international exposure, builds lasting diplomatic relationships and advances the country’s Diaspora objectives.

“NTAC has sustained regular deployment of Nigerian professionals to partner countries while strengthening arrangements for the return, reception and reintegration of volunteers after the successful completion of their assignments.

In 2026 alone, NTAC has received returning volunteers from countries including Uganda, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and The Gambia”, the D.G said.
On welfare and support, he said arrangements have been strengthened regarding volunteers’ allowances, deployment, welfare, monitoring, debriefing and reintegration.

According to him, every Nigerian professional deployed abroad represents the country and should therefore be supported and treated with dignity in the discharge of national responsibilities, noting that their contributions demonstrate the country’s capacity to provide expertise and support development of other nations.
Describing NTAC as a practical instrument of Nigeria’s soft power, the D.G stressed that diplomacy extends beyond official meetings and diplomatic engagements.

“Nigerian doctors, nurses, lecturers, engineers, lawyers, agricultural experts and other professionals serving abroad constitute a significant part of Nigeria’s international image.”

He cited the example of a Nigerian nurse in Guinea-Bissau whose professional intervention during a complicated pregnancy resulted in the safe delivery of a child who was subsequently named Nkiruka in honour of the Nigerian professional’s role.

“Such experiences demonstrate the human dimension of Nigeria’s foreign policy and the role of individual Nigerian professionals in strengthening relationships between Nigeria and other countries.

“We have also continued to strengthen South-South Cooperation agenda through partnerships across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific with the intention of transforming technical assistance into a mutually beneficial platform through which Nigeria can give knowledge, receive knowledge and create international opportunities for its professionals.

“Nigeria possesses a large pool of professional and technical talent and that is the reason NTAC is exploring arrangements through which countries requiring our expertise can engage our professionals through structured, remunerated and mutually beneficial programmes.”

He disclosed that Jamaica has expressed interest in engaging hundreds of Nigerian professionals, describing the development as an indication of the international demand for Nigerian expertise and an opportunity for NTAC to contribute further to economic diplomacy
The DG expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for supporting Technical Aid Corps programme, stressing that the agency will continue to contribute to the country’s diplomatic and development objectives.