Abuja:The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has deployed 10 Technical Aid Corps volunteers to Uganda for a two-year national service in various fields of expertise. This deployment was announced by Dr. Yusuf Yakub, Director-General of NTAC, at the agency’s headquarters.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the deployment is part of President Bola Tinubu’s 4D Foreign Policy Initiative, which focuses on Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora. This initiative positions NTAC as a tool for Nigeria’s soft-power diplomacy. Initially, 38 volunteers were scheduled for deployment, but only 10 were ready to depart immediately, with the rest expected to join in the coming weeks.
Yakub expressed gratitude for the volunteers’ commitment, urging them to uphold Nigeria’s image during their assignment in Uganda. He emphasized that their presence in Uganda would represent Nigeria itself. NTAC, established in 1987, has sent over 11,000 volunteers to more than 40 countries, including over 1,500 in the last three years.
The Federal Government will cover the volunteers’ allowances, while the Nigerian High Commission in Uganda will provide support and guidance. The Ugandan authorities will supply accommodation, transportation, and utilities. The volunteers are required to sign a tripartite agreement before departing.
Dr. Abdulmalik Aliyu of the University of Ilorin, leading the team, stated that the group intends to fulfill their responsibilities diligently. Dr. Barbara Amaefule from Imo State University and Prof. Taofeeq Yekinni of the University of Ibadan expressed their commitment to positively contributing to the development of Ugandan communities and upholding Nigeria’s image.