NTAC, Tunisia seek stronger ties in culture, technology, skills exchange

The Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment under the Tinubu administration to deepening international collaboration in areas of mutual interest. He made this known during a courtesy visit by the Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Mosen Antit, at the NTAC headquarters in Abuja.

Yakub identified key sectors for potential cooperation between Nigeria and Tunisia, including science and technology, engineering, artisanal skills, medical sciences, and cultural diplomacy. He noted that both countries share several opportunities for bilateral engagement, including addressing illegal migration, skill exchanges, and technology transfer.

Highlighting the successes of the NTAC scheme since its inception in 1987, the DG commended President Tinubu for promoting the initiative through his 4-D Foreign Policy agenda—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora. He said the policy has elevated Nigeria’s global visibility and strengthened its diplomatic presence.

A notable example of the scheme’s impact, according to Yakub, is a volunteer’s successful organization of an exhibition on Nigeria’s indigenous fabric, Adire, in Jamaica. The event spurred interest across the Caribbean, led to the creation of a cottage industry, and even inspired the renaming of a local fabric to “Jadire” in tribute to Nigerian influence.

In his remarks, Ambassador Antit praised Nigeria’s sustained commitment to the NTAC scheme and emphasized its significance in promoting volunteerism, skill transfer, and South-South cooperation. He called for deeper cultural collaboration between Nigeria and Tunisia, stressing that cultural diplomacy can be a more effective and enduring form of bilateral engagement.

The meeting was attended by senior NTAC officials, including Ambassador Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed, Director of Administration, and Ambassador Zakari Usman, Director of Programmes, as well as representatives from the Tunisian Embassy in Abuja.