Yusuf Yakub, the director-general (D-G), Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), praised President Bola Tinubu’s 4-D foreign policy initiative aimed at rendering technical aid to the countries in need of professionals.

Mr Yakub said this at a media parley on Saturday in Abuja while marking his two years in office.

He described Mr Tinubu’s 4-D foreign policy initiative as the foundation for the continuous deployment of Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Volunteers to countries in need of professionals.

The D-G, who gave account of the agency’s operations since he assumed office in August 2023, said that it was filled with success stories due to the support from Mr Tinubu’s administration.

He said that since the establishment of NTAC engagement with Africa, Caribbean, and the Pacific (ACP) countries, NTAC had developed over 40,000 volunteers.

The director-general said the corps had received accolades from the ACP countries that benefited from the TAC scheme.

According to him, some of the beneficiaries of the TAC scheme are now ministers in their various fields of endeavour in their countries.

He added that some TAC volunteers had been appointed as vice chancellors and deputy chancellors in their host universities due to their remarkable skills.

According to him, two of the volunteers were appointed by the Gambian president to fill the position of vice chancellor and deputy vice chancellor in one of that country’s universities.

He said other volunteers’ records of excellence were of a reputable standard, while others published books in their two years of service to humanity in their host communities.

Mr Yakub thanked Mr Tinubu for giving special attention to the initiative immediately he came into power.

“This initiative is working not only for Nigerians but for all blacks in Africa in the ACP countries”, he said.

He said that before now, the activities of the corps were halted due to the lack of funds, but when Mr Tinubu’s government came on board, all the outstanding monies owed before he assumed office were paid.

According to him, NTAC is now debt-free, and this has made the agency’s operation smooth and active. The agency now deploys twice or thrice a month.

He said since he assumed office, four new countries have been opened up, adding that these include Grenada, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and Zanzibar.

(NAN)