Nigerian govt deploys professors, lecturers to Sierra Leone, Uganda

BY NEWS DESK, OCTOBER 15, 2025 | 11:05 AM

The Federal Government has deployed 12 Technical Aid Corps, TAC, volunteers comprising professors and lecturers to Sierra Leone and the Republic of Uganda to bridge educational gaps.

The deployment was done by Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, NTAC, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Yakub while addressing the TAC volunteers during the deployment exercise lauded President Bola Tinubu for supporting the 4-D foreign policy initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian professionals to bridge the educational gaps in other African countries.

He added that, before now, the deployment exercise was almost at a standstill but since the President assumed office, priority had been given to soft power diplomacy.

“That is why we have been deploying at least averagely three times in a month, just few weeks ago we deployed some TAC volunteers and today we are deploying to two countries.

“Mr President we thank you for the support, and for promoting soft power diplomacy to play our role as the big brother in Africa and also taking our place in the community of nations.

“As one of the countries that is contributing immensely to the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs), Today, we are deploying some of our experts and best to Sierra Leone and Uganda.

“We are not only deploying to impact knowledge, but to contribute to the economic development of those countries, and ultimately to serve humanity.

“So, my dear volunteers, you are going out there to serve humanity and to raise the flag of Nigeria high and to make us proud as worthy ambassadors,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, Amb. Zakari Usman, the Corps Director of Programmes, congratulated the volunteers for being selected out of 10,000 entries.

He said shortly after the deployment ceremony, the volunteers would be sensitised to know how to conduct themselves for the period of two years they would spend in their host communities.

Prof. Haruna Ayuba, from the Department of Political Science of the University of Maiduguri, thanked President Tinubu and the NTAC D-G for giving them the opportunity to serve humanity in their countries.

Mr Ayuba, who is the Team Lead of the eight volunteers going to Ugandan, said it was a rare opportunity because some of them had been lecturing in Nigerian classrooms but now they would be lecturing in a foreign country’s classroom.

He urged other volunteers to give in their best to support in achieving the corps’ mandate.

Prof. Ngozi Alili, Faculty of Law Kogi State University, Anyigba, said that he was pleased to be among the people selected to serve Nigeria in Sierra Leone.

“I am happy because this is an extension of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, it shows that Nigeria is indeed the giant of Africa and the Nigerian government is financing 100 per cent of our welfare.

“I am happy that Nigeria is taking the lead in this type of developmental programme for the whole of Africa,’’ he said.

He also urged young Nigerians to aspire to be a part and parcel of the scheme because it would expose them to international relations and beyond.

Dr Goodness Ene-Bpngilli, PhD Lecturer with Ignatus Ajuru University of Education, described the scheme as a rare privilege because it was her first time to travel for a national assignment.

She added that as a public health practitioner, she would teach students on public health particularly the SDGs three.

in the host community adding that she was particular about the SDGs three.

“I will engage them and share knowledge on public health. I also thank the Nigerian government for the opportunity, ‘’ she said.

NAN