Federal Gov’t export another group of expatriates to Banjul

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.

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