…As DTAC Opens Engagement in Four New Countries
By Joel Ajayi
The Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s vision of becoming a global hub of skilled manpower while unveiling major milestones recorded under his two years in office.
Speaking at a media chat in Abuja themed “Two Years of Vision, Service, and Impact: Building Bridges, Strengthening Ties,” Yakub said the agency is on track to reduce unemployment at home while strengthening Nigeria’s development cooperation abroad.
He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “4-D” foreign policy initiative for revitalizing Nigeria’s global standing and energizing the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme, which has already deployed more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
“These efforts not only showcase Nigeria’s expertise but also provide sustainable job opportunities for thousands of skilled citizens while enhancing our diplomatic footprint,” he stated.
Yakub highlighted ten strategic pillars that have shaped NTAC’s operations, including expansion of TAC engagement, volunteer deployment, bilateral partnerships, stakeholder collaboration, staff welfare, transparency, and alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
As part of its expansion drive, NTAC has opened engagement with four new countries—Grenada, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and Zanzibar—aimed at bridging both educational and professional gaps. Volunteers are currently being prepared for deployment, after which the countries will be officially added to the TAC network.
“Over the past two years, we have established new relationships in these countries. They represent fresh frontiers for TAC engagement, and preparations are underway to deploy volunteers.”
“In the past two years we have open up TAC engagement in Grenada in the Southern Caribbean, and we have Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan and Zanzibar.
“These are the new countries that we have open up relationship with in the past two years.
“We are preparing to deploy volunteers to these countries. But until we deploy to these countries we will not put them in our radar.
“Another new initiative is to turn NTAC into a hub for the export of our man-power not only for free but for money.
“This was done ide by side with our agency’s operation and the soft power diplomacy of President, Bola Tinubu,” he said
He further unveiled a new initiative designed to curb illegal migration by creating legitimate opportunities for young Nigerians abroad.
According to him, NTAC is being repositioned into a manpower export hub where professionals can secure structured, paid employment while contributing to global development.
“Another initiative is to turn NTAC into a hub for exporting Nigeria’s manpower—not only for free but also through structured, paid opportunities. This reflects both our agency’s mandate and President Tinubu’s soft power diplomacy,” he said.
Yakub stressed that with its broadened engagements and institutional reforms, NTAC is not just deploying volunteers but positioning Nigeria as a manpower powerhouse and a trusted partner in Africa’s and the world’s development.
