The Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) is finalising plans to begin the export of Nigerian labour “with dignity” to countries across the world, its Director-General, Yusuf Buba Yakub, has announced.
Yakub, who presented his two-year stewardship scorecard in Abuja on Friday, said the programme aims to create employment, curb irregular migration, and reposition Nigeria’s human capital as a source of foreign exchange.
He disclosed that the initiative has secured legal clearance from the Federal Ministry of Justice following consultations with the Ministries of Labour, Health, and Foreign Affairs.
“One of the new policies I came in with is to turn NTAC into a hub for the export of our manpower — not just for free, but also for money,” Yakub said. “This is to discourage Japa, to reduce the deaths of our citizens in deserts and oceans, and most importantly, to create employment.”
Yakub noted that during a recent visit to Jamaica, the government requested additional manpower beyond the initial seven volunteers planned, a sign of growing demand for Nigerian professionals abroad.
Despite funding pressures caused by exchange rate fluctuations, he said NTAC has consistently met its volunteer deployment obligations. The Corps currently supports more than 450 volunteers in host countries who, according to Yakub, are “well paid and properly supported in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy commitments.”
To strengthen the agency, NTAC has introduced new ICT systems, launched an in-house magazine and documentary series, and reactivated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit under the ICPC.
Yakub also highlighted reforms since his appointment in August 2023, including the clearance of hundreds of millions of naira in debts covering unpaid allowances, tickets, and volunteer salaries. He said NTAC’s headquarters had been rehabilitated and staff welfare improved largely through outreach to partners.
Linking the agency’s work to President Bola Tinubu’s “4D” foreign policy agenda of Democracy, Demography, Diaspora, and Development, Yakub said NTAC is helping Nigerian youths gain international exposure, training, and experience to reinvest at home.
New host countries added in the past two years include Grenada, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, and Zanzibar.
“By the end of this year, we will be meeting our budget by 90% and more,” Yakub assured. “Despite the exchange rate challenges, we have cleared all debts and are not owing our volunteers.”
