Nigeria’s Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) was established in 1987 out of a desire by the Federal Government to streamline hitherto uncoordinated cash-based foreign assistance to needy African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Since its inception, the Directorate has remained a veritable foreign policy tool for consolidating sub-regional and regional cooperation within the context of South-South and Triangular Cooperation. Through the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme, the ideals of peace building, capacity development and sustainable development are being achieved. However, the TAC has not been deployed in ways it can help achieve other aims of Nigeria’s foreign policy interests.
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Over the years, the Directorate has been re-positioned and the time-honoured core mandate which centres on enhancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives has been revived, particularly under the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Indeed, the Buhari administration has been resilient in sustaining this foreign policy imperative by ensuring the continued deployment of volunteers to needy ACP countries.
In 2018 alone, over 200 university professors and Ph. D holders were deployed to various ACP countries. This has rekindled the hope of many of those recipient countries in Nigeria’s leadership and guide towards sustainable development. Indeed, these have positively enhanced the conduct of Nigeria’s foreign policy, at both sub-regional and regional levels and equally invigorated South-South Cooperation.
From the beginning the TAC programme to date, over 6,000 volunteers have been deployed to 35 ACP Countries while the scheme is currently operational in 10 ACP countries and spirited efforts are going on to capture other countries to renew their agreements with Nigeria under the scheme. These include: Malawi, Fiji Island, Antigua & Barbuda, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Some countries outside TAC covering areas have indicated interest in joining the Scheme such as Brazil and Thailand.
Furthermore, there has been a request from the Gambian Government for Judges to be deployed in order to strengthen its judicial system, particularly its Superior Courts (High and Appeal Courts). Accordingly, three Justices were recommended by the National Judicial Council and have been already been deployed. After a review of the programme, the Directorate has recorded remarkable improvement in the entire process of recruitment and deployment of volunteers as well as other activities within the Directorate, including, prompt payment of allowances of the volunteers, regular monitoring of the volunteers, among others.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.