DG/CEO, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub (3rd right), flanked by Amb. Bello A. Jaye, Director of Programmes, NTAC; Mr. Abdulkadir Iliyasu, SA (Legal) to the DG; Mrs. Ivie Okojie-Imarah, Head of Chancery, Nigerian High Commission, Sierra Leone; Mr. Falusi H. Dapo, Assistant Director, NTAC; and Mr. Rimdap R. Samson, NTAC Desk Officer, during the NTAC delegation’s visit to Sierra Leone.
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening bilateral relations and advancing South-South cooperation following a high-level monitoring and evaluation mission to Sierra Leone led by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub.
The strategic visit, undertaken by a Nigerian delegation comprising senior NTAC officials, including the Director of Programmes, Ambassador Bello A. Jaye, focused on assessing the impact of Nigerian Technical Aid Corps volunteers serving in Sierra Leone and identifying new areas of collaboration in education, health and human capital development.
Speaking during engagements with Sierra Leonean officials, Yakub said the mission aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives of promoting regional integration, capacity building and sustainable development across Africa.
At the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education in Freetown, the NTAC chief held discussions with the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, and Permanent Secretary Mohamed Sheik Karbo on expanding educational cooperation through academic partnerships, technical support programmes and knowledge exchange initiatives.
“Education remains a critical driver of sustainable development, economic growth, innovation and regional integration,” Yakub said, reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to deploy qualified professionals to support educational advancement across the continent.
The delegation also met officials of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, including Deputy Minister Prof. Charles Seusse and Permanent Secretary Dr. Phillip D. Karsho, where both sides explored opportunities to strengthen healthcare delivery through technical assistance, professional development and the deployment of skilled Nigerian health professionals.
Yakub described the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps as a vital instrument of Nigeria’s technical diplomacy, noting that the scheme continues to promote goodwill, knowledge transfer and cooperation among developing nations.
A major highlight of the visit was the assessment of 24 Nigerian Technical Aid Corps volunteers currently serving in educational and health institutions across Sierra Leone. The exercise evaluated their performance, achievements and challenges, as well as the overall effectiveness of the programme.
The NTAC Director-General commended the volunteers for their professionalism, dedication and patriotism, describing them as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria whose contributions continue to strengthen ties between both countries.
He praised the volunteers for projecting a positive image of Nigeria through the transfer of valuable skills and expertise that support Sierra Leone’s socio-economic development.
The Nigerian delegation also expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Sierra Leone for their hospitality and continued support for the Technical Aid Corps programme.
Special recognition was given to the Head of Chancery at the Nigerian High Commission in Freetown, Mrs. Ivie Okojie-Imarah, and NTAC Desk Officer, Mr. Rimdap R. Samson, for their role in coordinating the successful mission.
The visit reinforced the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Sierra Leone and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to sustainable development, regional cooperation, capacity building and African unity. Through initiatives such as the Technical Aid Corps Scheme, Nigeria continues to strengthen diplomatic ties and contribute to development across Africa and the Global South.
