NIGERIA EXPORTS MEDICAL TALENT TO ZANZIBAR IN LANDMARK DIPLOMATIC MISSION

This strategic move spearheaded by the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) represents a new chapter in the country’s commitment to pan-African development.

Health Medical professionals Nigeria Tanzania Africa Deployment Foreign policy.
Nigeria Deploys 35 Medical Professionals to Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Nigeria Deploys 35 Medical Professionals to Zanzibar, Tanzania.

In a powerful show of soft power diplomacy and continental solidarity, Nigeria has deployed 35 medical professionals to Zanzibar, Tanzania, to help bridge critical healthcare and educational gaps. This strategic move spearheaded by the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) represents a new chapter in the country’s commitment to pan-African development and global influence through expertise, not aid.

Unveiled during a ceremony in Abuja, the deployment is part of a broader foreign policy vision championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The NTAC initiative, in place since 1987, has consistently sent skilled Nigerian professionals across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific to support development goals, promote cultural exchange, and foster lasting diplomatic bonds.

“Today marks a pivotal day for the corps as we fulfil the directive of President Tinubu by deploying these 35 volunteers as ambassadors of soft power diplomacy,” said NTAC Director-General Dr Yusuf Yakubu, hailing the event as historic. He praised the President’s support and emphasized the importance of technical expertise as a tool of foreign engagement under the D-4 agenda Development, Democracy, Demography, and Diaspora.

Since its inception, NTAC has sent over 10,000 professionals to more than 40 countries. Dr Yakubu highlighted recent feedback from The Gambia, where the impact of Nigerian volunteers remains profound pointing out that the current Vice-Chancellor of the country’s only university is an NTAC alumnus deployed in 1999.

Leading the Zanzibar-bound team, Dr Paul Cornelius reaffirmed the group’s commitment to service.

For many of the volunteers, the opportunity is both an honor and a personal milestone. Mohammed Ibrahim, a paediatric nurse, expressed gratitude after being chosen from over 10,000 applicants, vowing to serve with dedication. Fellow nurse Mary-Jane Okieze described the deployment as a unique opportunity to showcase Nigerian expertise and leave a lasting, positive impact.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the professionals will serve as lecturers and healthcare providers, filling essential roles in Zanzibar’s institutions and reinforcing Nigeria’s growing reputation as a continental leader in knowledge-driven development.

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