President, Republic of Gambia, Adama Barrow, has lauded the Nigerian Government’s efforts in advancing his country’s educational standard.

He said the impact was evident through the scholarship and the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers competence sent by the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) to his country.

Mr Barrow said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday signed by the Special Assistant to the NTAC Director-General on Media and Publicity, Nkem Anyata-Lafia.

Ms Anyata-Lafia quoted Mr Barrow as saying this at the 17th Convocation Ceremony, University of the Gambia in Banjul.

The Gambian President lauded the giant strides being made by Nigerian professors deployed to serve in his country as volunteers.

He disclosed that the volunteers had completely changed the narratives in the entire education sector of the country.

The President, who is also the Chancellor of the University of the Gambia, noted that the support by NTAC’s continuous deployment of highly qualified professors in diverse fields showed that Nigeria was truly a blessing to the African continent and beyond.

Responding, the Director-General, NTAC, Dr. Yusuf Yakub,  expressed delight that the great mandate of the corps was being appreciated from far and wide.

He also noted the selfless sacrifice the Federal Government of Nigeria was making to sustain the flagship foreign policy tool.

The NTAC boss conveyed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative, which ensures that Nigeria would continue to remain visible in the comity of the nations of the world through its diverse laudable commitments to global advancement and progress.

“Thanks to our dear President for his broad-minded vision for global progress our nation has shown the world that we can selflessly apply ourselves to making our world better.

“From Africa to the Caribbean and Pacific countries, our footprints continue to tell the story that Nigeria is always prepared to give a shoulder to our black brothers and sisters to lean upon no matter where they may be on the face of the earth.

“I am happy today about the progress we are making in the Gambia. You all may recall that a TAC volunteer was the first vice chancellor here at this university and, as I speak to you, another set of volunteers are heading the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET).

“So, our partnership with the Gambia did not start today. For many years running this partnership has continued to be a progressive one and we will be glad to continue to engage further.

“I thank the President, my friend, the Honourable Minister of Higher Education as well as the authorities of this university for inviting me here as a Special Guest of Honour.

“We, at the corps as an institution, will always be there for their collaboration and progressive partnership,”the NTAC DG stated.

Nigeria and the Republic of the Gambia have maintained bilateral relations since the country got her independence In 1965.

(NAN)