Nigerian Technical Aid Corps Deploys Volunteers to Sierra Leone, Emphasises Discipline and Service.
By Caroline Ameh
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) has deployed 18 volunteers to Sierra Leone, marking a continuation of its 37-year mission to support African, Caribbean, and Pacific nations through technical expertise.
The Director General of TAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, underscored the importance of discipline and adherence to local laws during a ceremony held in Abuja today (Saturday).
The volunteers, comprising experienced health professionals including nurses and doctors, were selected from across Nigeria following rigorous preparations. Amb. Zakari Usman, Director of Programmes at TAC, praised the smooth logistical support provided by the agency, facilitated by the continuous backing of President Tinubu since assuming office in 2023.
While addressing the volunteers, DG Yusuf Buba Yakub highlighted their role as ambassadors of Nigeria, urging them to uphold the highest standards of decorum and respect for the host nation’s authorities. He emphasized that their conduct would determine Nigeria’s standing and influence in Sierra Leone and beyond, emphasising the historic role of TAC in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy goals.
“Since its inception, TAC has deployed over 35,000 professionals to support our brothers and sisters in partner countries,” DG Yusuf Buba Yakub remarked, emphasizing the program’s integral role in Nigeria’s foreign relations strategy. “As representatives of our nation, you carry the responsibility of maintaining our reputation through diligent service and adherence to local laws.”
The volunteers expressed their readiness to fulfill TAC’s mandate with dedication and integrity, pledging to contribute positively to their assigned communities in Sierra Leone.
They acknowledged the privilege of being selected among numerous applicants and vowed to make Nigeria proud through their work abroad.
The deployment to Sierra Leone follows recent initiatives where TAC volunteers have been sent to The Gambia and Uganda, with future deployments planned across various ACP countries in the coming weeks.
TAC remains committed to ensuring that its volunteers receive full support and guidance, both from the Nigerian High Commission in Sierra Leone and the agency itself, to navigate their roles effectively and contribute meaningfully to development efforts in their host countries.
Speaking earlier while presenting the Volunteers to the DG, Director of Programmes in the Agency,Amb.Zakari Usman, explained that the new Volunteers had arrived from across the country and had since undertaken various processes in the bid to prepare for deployment. He thanked the DG for his support at ensuring that the processes were easy and seamless.
Among the 18 health professionals, who belong to the first batch of the Volunteers scheduled for Sierra Leone,are very experienced Nurses and Medical Doctors that have served Nigeria in various communities and public institutions.
The Volunteers who also spoke to journalists during the exercise expressed readiness to commit to the ideals of the TAC mandate and make Nigeria proud through hard work and obedience to the authorities of the host country.
The Agency has since last month commenced the deployment of Volunteers to The Gambia,Uganda and now Sierra Leone. It is expected to carry out more deployments in the weeks ahead to different ACP countries.
Recall that the Technical Aid Corps was established 37 years ago as a flagship programme for the advancement of our nation’s Foreign Policy goals through the deployment of technical support to our brothers and sisters in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries; and has deployed over 35 thousand professionals and experts in various fields of learning to these countries over the past 37 years
