The Federal Government has deployed 20 new volunteers to Liberia under the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) scheme, while 14 who completed their service in the same country were formally debriefed in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of NTAC, Dr. Yusuf Yakub, praised the outgoing volunteers for what he described as “notable contributions” to Liberia’s educational system and wider community development. He urged the new batch to uphold Nigeria’s image and build on the achievements of their predecessors.

“You are going out there as ambassadors of Nigeria. The responsibility is huge, but the impact can be greater if you maintain the standards those before you have set. I encourage you to fly our flag high and serve humanity with dedication,” Yakub said.

He highlighted the success of previous NTAC deployments across Africa and the Caribbean, noting that some Nigerian volunteers in The Gambia were elevated to key academic leadership positions.

“Two of our volunteers were appointed as Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor in a Gambian university. Before them, another set had achieved similar appointments at that country’s University of Technology. This shows the level of trust and respect our volunteers command,” he added.

The DG also thanked President Bola Tinubu for prioritising the scheme. “This initiative is working not only for Nigeria but for all blacks in Africa across ACP countries. With our population and our human resources, Nigeria has so much to offer,” he said.

Zakari Usman, NTAC’s Director of Programme, said an earlier monitoring visit to Liberia revealed the volunteers’ tangible impact, particularly in the education sector, where some had published books that enriched local learning.
“We saw how they contributed directly to improving classroom instruction and curriculum content. Their work has left a mark in Liberia’s educational landscape,” Usman said.

Adeleke Roland, Team Lead of the 14 returning volunteers, confirmed the impact, noting improvements in Liberia’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination results.

“The 14 of us made significant contributions in our different fields. Our efforts translated into better student performance in national exams,” Roland said.

For the new group heading to Liberia, Team Lead Ismail Babatunde pledged commitment. “We are determined to demonstrate the abundance of skills and knowledge that Nigeria possesses, and to serve our host communities with excellence,” he said.