The Federal Government of Nigeria has formalized a significant bilateral agreement with the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia to provide skilled technical manpower. The agreement, signed under the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme, marks a major step in Nigeria’s diplomatic and developmental collaboration with Caribbean countries, reinforcing its commitment to South-South cooperation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, represented the Nigerian government at the signing ceremony. He emphasized that the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives to share its vast human resource expertise with developing nations, especially in areas of need such as education, health, agriculture, and engineering. The initiative is also aimed at strengthening cultural ties and international solidarity among developing nations.
As part of this agreement, Nigeria has already deployed a number of experts and professionals from key sectors to Saint Lucia and other Caribbean countries. These professionals will offer technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge transfer to help boost development in their host nations. According to the Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub, the professionals were carefully selected based on the identified needs of the recipient countries to ensure that their deployment has an immediate and sustainable impact.
Dr. Yakub highlighted that the TAC programme has historically played a crucial role in enhancing Nigeria’s global image and influence. He added that with this renewed commitment, Nigeria aims to deepen its global partnerships by providing services that support the development goals of friendly nations. He assured that mechanisms are in place to monitor and evaluate the performance of the deployed professionals, ensuring that the objectives of the programme are met effectively.
The government of Saint Lucia welcomed the collaboration, expressing gratitude for Nigeria’s gesture and acknowledging the potential benefits to the country’s socio-economic development. The partnership is expected to contribute to nation-building in Saint Lucia while also enhancing Nigeria’s diplomatic footprint and export of human capital.
Overall, the agreement represents a mutually beneficial arrangement that leverages Nigeria’s abundant skilled workforce to support development in fellow Global South nations.
Leave a Reply