In a move to strengthen diplomatic ties and promote regional development, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has deployed 35 medical professionals to Zanzibar, Tanzania. The deployment, which includes doctors and nurses, is aimed at addressing both educational and professional gaps in the region.
Speaking at the official send-off in Abuja on Tuesday, Director-General of NTAC, Dr. Yusuf Yakub, described the event as a milestone for the agency and a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to soft power diplomacy, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy direction.
“Today is a historic day. In honour of President Tinubu’s directive, we are deploying 35 volunteers to Zanzibar to serve and strengthen our diplomatic footprint,” said Yakub. He emphasized that NTAC’s mandate aligns with the administration’s “4-D” foreign policy agenda—focused on Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.
Yakub noted that since NTAC’s inception in 1987, the agency has transitioned from financial aid to technical assistance by deploying Nigerian professionals to African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. “To date, we’ve deployed over 10,000 experts to more than 40 ACP nations,” he stated.
Recalling a recent visit to The Gambia, Yakub shared that President Adama Barrow praised Nigeria’s contribution to education in the country, including the fact that both the first and second Vice Chancellors of The Gambia’s only university were former NTAC volunteers.
In the spirit of South-South cooperation, Yakub stressed the importance of African nations supporting one another with their available expertise.
Leading the team to Zanzibar, Dr. Paul Cornelius expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for the opportunity and pledged that the team would exceed expectations and uphold Nigeria’s image abroad.
Pediatric nurse Mohammed Ibrahim and registered nurse Mary-Jane Okieze also expressed appreciation for being selected from over 10,000 applicants. They pledged to serve diligently and be exemplary ambassadors of Nigeria.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the volunteers will be engaged in academic and clinical roles, helping to fill critical professional gaps in healthcare institutions across Zanzibar.
