By MAUREEN OKON

The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) says Jamaica is seeking 400 Nigerian professionals to work with a 100 per cent salary to bridge the manpower gap in that country.

Dr. Yusuf Yakub, Director-General (D-G) of the NTAC said this on Tuesday in Abuja during a deployment exercise for 16 TAC volunteers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 16 volunteers would be deployed to the Republic of Benin and Rwanda.

This is to fulfil Nigeria’s “big-brother” role to Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries, and to strengthen both diplomatic and cultural ties.

According to Yakub, it is also to fulfill the mandate of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which is hinged on the core pillars of Democracy, Development, Demographic and the Diaspora engagement.

“We make sure that the mandate of the president is carried out any time these countries come asking for support to fill both the professional and educational gaps.

“Going forward, NTAC will not only be sending out volunteers on humanitarian basis.

“There are countries that want to pay for workers from Nigeria in a dignified and organised way.

“The Jamaican government is now asking for 400 workers from Nigeria and they are ready to pay 100 per cent salary,” he said.

Yakub said that NTAC was transforming to become a revenue generating agency for the country, adding that it is a big achievement.

Mr. Jafaru Usman, an Engineer from the University of Maiduguri, and the team lead of the new batch of volunteers said that he was glad to be participating in the programme.

Usman lauded NTAC for giving him and the other volunteers the opportunity to render their services to humanity.

He said that all the volunteers would not renege on the trust the Federal Government had placed on their shoulders.

Dr. Angela Akanwa, a Senior Lecturer from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, also expressed gladness to be participating in the scheme, promising to make Nigeria proud.

NAN reports that NTAC is a Federal Government agency saddled with the responsibility of providing technical assistance to other developing countries.

Since its establishment in 1987, the corps has deployed over 10, 000 volunteers to ACP countries and multilateral institutions around the world. (NAN)