Director-General, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub has tasked Nigerian volunteers deployed to the Republic of Benin to serve with integrity, adding that they should be committed to the realization of the set goals for which the NTAC deployed them to the neighboring country.
This was made known in a recent statement from the NTAC, signed by Ojo Adetoun Olubunmi, Head of Information and Public Relations at the organization.
The Director-General, who gave the charge in Abuja while briefing the five volunteer Technical Diplomats, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the unity and progress of Benin Republic and the African continent. Buba Yakub therefore encouraged the Technical Diplomats to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Federal Government of Nigeria during their two-year stay in Benin Republic.
The final briefing, which was an intensive session at the Nigeria Technical Aid Corps aimed to engage the new set of volunteers before their departure to Benin Republic.
Leader of the team of five volunteers, Mr. Michael Akubo commended President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and the Director General of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Buba Yakub for providing the remarkable opportunity.
Akubo, a professional basketball coach, commended President Tinubu for his commitment to the volunteering scheme, adding that it takes a great and focused leader to share, especially when resources are scarce.
Akubo assured that the team of five Technical Volunteers will not disappoint the country, stating that they will make Nigeria proud in Benin Republic. This, he said they will do by putting in their best to achieve set goals.
The Director-General who further admonished the Technical Volunteers through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Nkem Anyata-Lafia, explained that the volunteers were selected under the Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) scheme, noting that they are expected to contribute their skills and expertise to the development of the host country while promoting Nigeria’s interests and values.
Addressing the volunteers, Rt. Hon. Buba urged the volunteers to be excellent ambassadors of Nigeria. He said they should serve both humanity and their country, and emphasized the importance of changing the narrative about Nigeria through the initiative.
Buba Yakub, a former Federal Lawmaker reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to providing Technical Support to African countries. He highlighted that the deployment of volunteers demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to sharing its abundant human resources with African, Caribbean, and the Pacific, as well as its desire to exchange expertise and knowledge where needed.
The five volunteers, who specialize in various fields; including Agriculture, Nursing, Engineering, Basketball, Academics, and the sciences, are currently employed in different institutions across Nigeria. They are set to spend the next two years in their host country before returning to their positions in Nigeria.
Having completed rigorous orientation exercises to prepare them for their assignments, they are ready for the challenges ahead.
Present at the briefing were some senior staff at NTAC led by Mr. Adebowale Fehintola, Assistant Director Programs; Mrs. Bukola Ejiwale, Ministry Consular Administration; Mrs. ‘Bunmi Ojo, Head Information/Public Relations, NTAC; and Mr. Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Assistant on Media to the NTAC Director General who represented the Director-General among others.
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria dedicated to providing technical assistance to developing countries. Since its establishment in 1987, the scheme has deployed over ten thousand volunteers to various countries and multilateral institutions around the world.
