The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has announced the deployment of 35 medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, to Zanzibar, Tanzania, as part of its ongoing effort to support professional development and capacity building in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

Director General of NTAC, Dr. Yusuf Yakub, stated during the deployment event held Tuesday in Abuja that the exercise aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance Nigeria’s foreign policy through soft power diplomacy.

“Today is a historic day for the corps and to honour the directive of President Bola Tinubu, using soft power diplomacy, the corps is sending 35 TAC volunteers to Zanzibar,” Yakub said.

He explained that NTAC’s mandate, since its establishment in 1987, has shifted from financial assistance to the deployment of technical experts as a means of strengthening diplomatic ties and encouraging cultural exchange.

According to him, more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals have so far been deployed to various ACP countries.

Yakub shared an example of NTAC’s impact, noting that in The Gambia, both the first and second vice-chancellors of the country’s only university were former Nigerian volunteers. “This is a great achievement for our country,” he said.

He added that NTAC’s work reflects Nigeria’s commitment to the principles of South-South cooperation and solidarity among developing countries. “Fellow African brothers and underdeveloped countries need to come together in bridging the gaps with whatever expertise they have,” he said.

Dr. Paul Cornelius, who is leading the team of 35 volunteers, expressed appreciation for the opportunity and pledged that the group would work to surpass the achievements of previous deployments. “We will do the country proud,” he said.

Mohammed Ibrahim, a paediatric nurse among the volunteers, expressed gratitude for being selected from over 10,000 applicants. He said he looked forward to serving the people of Zanzibar and being a good ambassador for Nigeria.

Also speaking, Mary-Jane Okieze, a registered nurse, described the deployment as an opportunity to apply her skills in a new setting. “It is an honour to care for the sick in Zanzibar,” she said, while commending the government and NTAC for what she described as a significant initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the deployed professionals will be engaged in both clinical work and teaching roles, helping to bridge educational and service delivery gaps in Zanzibar.