POLITICAL Economy

Nigeria, Thailand Sign MoU To Export Young Professionals

by admin on | 2026-08-28 16:10:34

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By, Maryam Muhammad, Abuja

The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, NTAC Director General and Chief Executive

Officer, Dr Yusuf Yakub, says Nigeria and Thailand have signed a Memorandum

of Understanding, MOU to export young Professionals on a fee to the Asian country.

The Director General stated this during the Orientation and Briefing Exercise for eighteen prospective NTAC Volunteers selected for

deployment to Catholic and Protestant Universities in Rwanda.

Dr Yakub said many countries have shown interest to engage Young Nigerian Professionals to fill the manpower gap in those countries.

He said the “new initiative would provide dignified employment opportunities for Nigerians, discourage illegal migration and

contribute to reducing unemployment, particularly among Nigerian

youths.”

In a statement by the Head, Information and Public Relations Unit of the NTAC,

Ojo Olubunmi, the Director General charged the volunteers to Rwanda, to demonstrate professionalism, humility, discipline and commitment to service while representing Nigeria in their host institutions.

Dr Yakub expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the renewed support and attention given to the Technical Aid Corps

programme.

He noted that “the programme had moved from a period of decline before 2023 to what he described as its highest peak under the present administration”.

According to the Director General, the administration’s renewed commitment has revitalised the programme, with Nigerian volunteers now being deployed regularly to different parts of Africa, the Caribbean

and the Pacific.

He also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, towards the successful

implementation of the programme.

Dr Yakub explained that the NTAC, established 38 years ago and backed

by an Act of the National Assembly in 1993, remains an important instrument of Nigeria’s soft-power diplomacy, through which the

country has built enduring relationships and strengthened its international influence.

“The programme has, over the years, deployed more than 10,000 Nigerian experts to over 40 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the

Pacific, making significant contributions to education, human-capital development and the socio-economic advancement of host countries,” he stated.

The Director General urged the volunteers to regard their deployment as an opportunity to serve humanity and make Nigeria proud. He charged them to remain humble, adaptable, disciplined and dedicated to their

assignments, stressing that their conduct in Rwanda would reflect directly on the image of Nigeria.

“You are going out to Rwanda not only to impact knowledge in the citizens and students you are going to teach, but also to represent

Nigeria. As you see yourself wearing this green blazer, you will not be called by your individual names when you are there; the citizens of

Rwanda will see you as Nigeria. All they see is Nigeria. So, all your conduct is Nigeria. If you do well, then the name of Nigeria will be

there in a good light,” Dr Yakub re-emphasised

The NTAC Chief Executive reminded the volunteers that their selection

followed a rigorous process involving thousands of applicants, interviews and other stages of assessment, “encouraged the Volunteers to build on the achievements of previous NTAC volunteers who had distinguished themselves in their host countries, including those who had risen to become Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors, as well as others appointed to significant positions by foreign

governments.”

He challenged the new volunteers to surpass the achievements of their predecessors and return to Nigeria with accomplishments that would further strengthen the reputation of the Technical Aid Corps programme.

The NTAC Director General assured the volunteers that the Nigerian Government would provide for their welfare, including allowances, air tickets and other necessary provisions.

He informed the Volunteers that the Nigerian Embassy in Rwanda would serve as their

guardian and point of support throughout their assignment.

Dr Yakub advised the volunteers to adhere strictly to the rules of engagement, agreements and conditions governing their deployment.

“The Volunteers against abandoning their assignments without proper authorisation or engage in conduct capable of undermining the image of Nigeria,” he cautioned

Earlier, the NTAC Director of Programmes, Ambassador Bello Jaye, welcomed the Director-General, senior management officials and the prospective volunteers to the orientation and briefing exercise.

Ambassador Jaye expressed appreciation to the NTAC Director-General for his support throughout the rigorous selection and deployment process, noting that the successful volunteers were selected from

thousands of applicants after interviews and other stages of assessment.

He congratulated the volunteers on their selection and urged the volunteers to appreciate the opportunity by approaching their assignments with seriousness, professionalism and commitment.

Responding on behalf of the volunteers scheduled for the Protestant

University of Rwanda, the Team Lead, Professor Abdul-Azeez Isiaka

Adeyemi, expressed appreciation to the NTAC management for the guidance and preparation provided ahead of their deployment.

He assured the Director General that the team would use the guidance received during the orientation as a daily reference throughout their assignment and would strive to return as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.

Similarly, the Team Lead for the Catholic University of Rwanda team, Dr Idris Muhammad Ladan, thanked the NTAC management and officials involved in the deployment process for their dedication and

professionalism.

He also assured the Director General and NTAC management that the volunteers would give their best, represent Nigeria positively and

make the organisation proud throughout their stay in Rwanda.

The volunteers’ deployment further underscores the renewed commitment

of the Nigerian Government to technical cooperation, human capital development and the strategic use of soft power in advancing Nigeria’s

international relations.