Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub, has called on the Corps’ Volunteers to always abide by the laws of the country where they have been deployed to serve.
He said it is by so doing that Nigeria as a big-brother country will continue to retain the respect and admiration of their host countries wherever the Volunteers have been deployed.
The TAC DG, who made the call on Saturday in Abuja during the ceremony for the deployment of 18 Volunteers to Sierra Leone, thanked President Tinubu for his continuous support for the 37-year-old programme since assuming office in 2023.
Buba also added that the Volunteers were Ambassadors of the Nigerian nation and were, therefore,expected to exhibit the highest form of discipline,decorum and obedience to constituted authorities.
“Just as you have been informed, 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.The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps has deployed over 35 thousand professionals and experts in various fields of learning to these countries over the past 37 years.
“The Government of Nigeria places great interest and value on this foreign policy tool. This is why you go out there with our official passports.And just as our Ambassadors,you are expected never to do the don’ts of the country in which you are going to serve. You must keep in mind that what you are involved in is Volunteer service.So,no matter the opulence of your home,if you are quartered in a 1-room apartment,do not forget what took you there.
” Over the last 37 years,all those who have served everywhere in this Scheme,have done so with dignity and honour,and nothing less is expected of you.I congratulate you on being successful among the thousands of those who applied for this opportunity and wish you well in the journey ahead of you all.
” I also like to add that, while in Sierra Leone,the High Commission of Nigeria there remains your guardian,while we here are your parents.Whatever you want to do,please , remember to follow the rules in the Country Agreement and the tripartite agreement the Federal Government through TAC has signed with you and the Government of Sierra Leone. Endeavour to study these rules and regulations in order not to fall foul of any of the provisions.For us,as an Agency,we will ensure that all responsibilities towards you are followed to the letter”
Earlier speaking 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 also 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.
It would be recalled that 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.
