Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) is poised to address the pressing issue of unemployment in Nigeria through the exportation of skilled professionals to foreign nations.
This initiative was highlighted yesterday in Abuja by the Director General of NTAC, Yusuf Yakub, during the deployment of forty medical expert volunteers to Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania.
Yakub emphasized the transformation of NTAC into a revenue-generating agency, stating, “The Jamaican government has now applied for 400 experts from Nigeria that they will fully pay for. Apart from transforming into a revenue-generating agency, we are solving the issue of unemployment.”
He also stressed that the NTAC deployments of these skilled manpower to other African and Caribbean countries is a significant projection of Nigeria’s soft power.
He noted the alarming trend of illegal migration among unemployed Nigerians, asserting that the TAC scheme offers a legitimate pathway for skilled individuals to find work abroad.
“The process is at its advanced stage today. The Attorney General of the Federation is working on the new agreement. And I am sure in a couple of weeks, Nigeria will start exporting its labour with dignity to all parts of the world,” he added, expressing optimism that this initiative will significantly reduce unemployment rates in the country.
Yakub also noted Nigeria’s role as a leader in Africa, advocating for continued cooperation with fellow African nations.
“Nigeria is a big brother country and a superpower in Africa, and in the spirit of South-South cooperation, there is a need for Nigeria to continue to extend a hand of fellowship with fellow blacks all over the world,” he stated.
The Director General urged the volunteers to serve as exemplary ambassadors of Nigeria during their tenure abroad.
““Nigeria is a big country and a superpower in Africa, and in the spirit of South-South cooperation, and in the spirit of Pan-Africanism, we will have to continue to share with our fellow blacks all over the world. If you watched your television yesterday, you would see where the president of Gambia was appreciating the Federal Republic of Nigeria, specifically President Bola Tinubu, for bringing Africa to the limelight. And you can not achieve that until you share what you have.
“If you travel within Africa today, it’s very difficult to connect because the level of businesses amongst ourselves is very low. But with this spirit and with this initiative of the 4D foreign policy initiative of Mr. President, I think Africa is becoming stronger, and we are becoming united. And with this gesture, Africa will come on top among the committee of nations”, he said.
Also speaking, Team Lead for the volunteer group, Mohamed Jawad Jaffa, who is also a Pediatric Nurse, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve. He pledged to uphold the nation’s reputation.
“We give glory to God for this opportunity. Our prayers are that let us do the needful and do as the task requires. And for sure, one thing that is not negotiable is to let us be good ambassadors of our country. And this is what we are going to make sure that we keep to it. And to give a good name for our country, Nigeria, through this programme,” Jaffa said.
Fellow volunteer Mary Jane Okeze, also stated that’ “Our job here is to help the sick. And this is a very big opportunity for every one of us. We will make sure we do our best and represent our country properly.”
The Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Scheme aims to strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties between Nigeria and recipient nations, while simultaneously addressing the unemployment crisis at home.
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