…As Recipient Country Advances More Requests for Volunteers in Diverse Fields_
Joel Ajayi
delegation of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps led by the Agency’s Director General,Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub last week met with some officials of Government of Seychelles in Victoria.It also met with some TAC Volunteers serving in that country.
The delegation was in the country to strengthen bilateral relations that exist between the country and the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the area of technical aid and, equally,use the opportunity to monitor the progress of the TAC Scheme Volunteers serving in that country.
During a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Health in Seychelles,the NTAC Director General reiterated the support of the Federal Government for the continuous provision of technical skills to the country through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC).
Rt.Hon.Buba also informed his hosts that since the establishment of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps in 1987,the Corps has consistently sent over 10000 highly skilled professionals in diverse fields of expertise to over forty countries in Africa,the Caribbean and Pacific countries, reinforcing the importance of the Scheme to Nigeria’s Foreign Policy goals.
He also told his guests that these professionals have continued to make significant differences in such sectors as Education, Engineering, Medical Services, Nursing and Medical Statistics in the lives of citizens of countries where they have served or are currently serving.Consequent upon the foregoing,the NTAC DG welcomed the requests of the Ministry in the areas of their interests.
Responding, the Principal Secretary at the Seychelles’ Ministry of Health,Dr.Bernard Valentin thanked the NTAC delegation for its visit to their country.He praised the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria for its very robust and productive TAC Scheme, while acknowledging that the Scheme has continued to strengthen the capacity of some of the country’s professionals to deliver on their mandates and has also aided the filling of the many skills gaps that also exist in their country .
Dr.Valentin also informed the NTAC delegation that the Ministry would formally send to Nigeria its request for Volunteer Medical Doctors,Nurses, Engineers as well as Medical Statisticians through the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The NTAC DG was accompanied on the visit by the Ag.High Commissioner of Nigerian to Kenya with concurrent accreditation to Seychelles,Amb.Aliyu Mande as well as Amb.Usman Zakari,the Director of Programmes at the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps.
Among those who attended the meeting on the side of the Seychelles’ Ministry of Health led by the Principal Secretary, were:
Dr.Susan Fock Tave,Chief Medical Officer;Dr.Gylian Mein,Chief Nursing Officer as well as Ms Betty-May Bibi, International Co-operation Officer.
