Nigeria TAC Volunteers |
The Federal Government of the Republic
of Nigeria this week sent another
group of 16 members of the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Volunteers to Banjul, The Gambia to
boost the education sector.
In as many years, the TAC has exported professionals in
various African-Caribbean countries to work as volunteers in various sectors
under governments. The volunteers, who will spend a two-year stint in The
Gambia, were received at the Nigerian High Commission in Banjul on October 27 by The Gambia Ministry
of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE).
Speaking at the reception on Thursday, Mr Jafar Mahmoud
Balarabe, Deputy Director TAC Nigeria, said as part of the two countries
bilateral relations, the Nigeria Government has been supporting The Gambia in
various fields.
Extending best wishes from the TAC office in Nigeria
to the Gambia Government, who has been very supportive of the programme, Mr
Balarabe explained that the 16 professionals are brought to The Gambia,
primarily to enhance the education sector.
“This group of corps is brought to fill the gap that has
been left by their predecessors, who left early this year. Another group will
fly into Banjul
very soon” he said.
According to him, three (3) of the corps will be received by
the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology since they
will be lecturing at the University of The Gambia (UTG).
Mr Faruk Yahya, Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian High
Commission in Banjul, said relations between Banjul and Abuja
has been very cordial for many years, commending the MoBSE for their diligence
and cooperation.
The Representative of the MoBSE, Mr Bakary Ceesay, Principal
Education Officer and Human Resource Director, is of the view that “bilateral
relations between Gambia and
Nigeria
has been resounding and worth emulating”.
He said the Nigeria TAC has been very much instrumental in
the development process of The Gambia, especially in the Education, Judicial
and Health sectors.
“Nigeria has demonstrated great commitment towards this bilateral trade,” he remarked.
“Nigeria has demonstrated great commitment towards this bilateral trade,” he remarked.
However, he called on the Nigeria Government to review the
timing of withdrawal of the corps at the end of their spell. “Normally by the
time their term ends there is still a few months left to the end of the
academic year and this create a vacuum in the education sector, we are
appealing to the Government of Nigeria to at least extend the corpses mandate
to July when the academic year ends,” he suggests.
- Author: Modou S. Joof for The Voice newspaper
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