Nigeria Deploys Volunteers to Sierra Leone, Uganda

The Federal Government on Tuesday deployed 12 Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers to Sierra Leone and Uganda.

Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the volunteers comprise of professors and lecturers.

Yakub lauded President Bola Tinubu for supporting the 4-D foreign policy initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian professionals.

“That is why we have been deploying at least averagely three times in a month; just few weeks ago, we deployed some TAC volunteers, and today we are deploying to two countries.”

He said that Tinubu has been promoting soft power diplomacy that places Nigeria in its rightful place in Africa and among the comity of nations.

“As one of the countries that is contributing immensely to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), today, we are deploying some of our experts and best to Sierra Leone and Uganda.

“We are not only deploying to impart knowledge, but to contribute to the economic development of those countries, and ultimately to serve humanity.

“So, my dear volunteers, you are going out there to serve humanity, to raise the flag of Nigeria high and to make us proud as worthy ambassadors,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, Amb. Zakari Usman, the Corps Director of Programmes, congratulated the volunteers for being selected out of 10,000 entries.

He said that the volunteers would be sensitised to their duties and responsibilities during the two years service in their host countries.

Prof. Haruna Ayuba, from the Department of Political Science of the University of Maiduguri, thanked the federal government for giving them the opportunity to serve Africa.

Ayuba, who is the Team Lead of the eight volunteers going to Uganda, said it was a rare opportunity to explore and deploy their expertise in other countries.

He urged other volunteers to give their best in achieving the corps’ mandate.

Prof. Ngozi Alili, of Faculty of Law, Kogi State University, Anyigba, said he was pleased to be among the people selected to serve Nigeria in Sierra Leone.

“I am happy because this is an extension of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President; it shows that Nigeria is indeed the giant of Africa and the Nigerian government is financing 100 per cent of our welfare.

“I am happy that Nigeria is taking the lead in this type of developmental programme for the whole of Africa,’’ he said.

He also urged young Nigerians to aspire to be part of the scheme because it would expose them to international relations and more.

Dr Goodness Ene-Bongilli, a lecturer with Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, described the scheme as a rare privilege because it was her first time of travelling for a national assignment.

She said that as a public health practitioner, she would teach students on the subject, particularly the SDG three.

“I will engage them and share knowledge on public health. I also thank the Nigerian government for the opportunity,” she said. (NAN