DTAC to Collaborate, Strengthen Relations with NiDCOM to Advance National Interest

By Iyojo Ameh

The Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) have agreed to strengthen collaboration in order to advance the best intentions of the Tinubu Administration in the areas of their common interests.

The above decision was reached today, Wednesday, in Abuja,during a courtesy visit by the Director -General of DTAC,Rt.

Hon.(Dr.)Yusuf Buba Yakub,to the Chairman/CEO, NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Speaking during the visit,the DTAC boss,Rt.

Hon. Buba said the occasion was for him a sort of home-coming and provided him the opportunity to share his vision for synergy and collaboration with the sister-Agency in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since his appointment in late August.

While explaining that the DTAC is in the business of promoting the nation’s bilateral and multilateral ties across the globe through the deployment of technical aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries,in addition to aiming to widen its scope of coverage,Buba said the use of soft-power diplomacy remains the way to go in a world where instruments of coercion were no longer needed to wield influence over the globe.

He said the co-operation of NiDCOM and DTAC was necessary to drive some of the major needs aimed at strengthening the mandates of the both Agencies in deepening relations with the global community through people-to-people collaboration, especially when it means that every deployed Volunteer from DTAC automatically becomes a member of the nation’s Diaspora .

Buba advocated a change of mindset among Nigerian Diasporans through a strategic collaboration with Nigerian Missions across the world where, he believes, the Diasporans can be made the greatest marketers of the Nigerian dream as against the present situation where the Diasporans hardly see the Missions as home abroad.He proposed the establishment of a Desk Office manned by NiDCOM officers who will ensure a smooth and seamless liaison between the Missions and the Diasporans in the bid to fully involve them in driving foreign direct investments for Nigeria.

Responding, the NiDCOM Chair, Dabiri-Erewa, said she was optimistic that a collaboration with DTAC would be in the best interest of the nation. She added that , given the experience of the new DG of DTAC as a former Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,House of Representatives, much would be expected “as your experience will be completely put to bear,” she concluded.

Among those who were part of the visit from the side of DTAC was the Director of Programmes in the Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed. While on the side of NiDCOM were Engr. Sule Yakubu Baci, the Secretary of the Commission, as well as Hon. A. Terab, Head of Department, Technical Transfer and Innovations at NiDCOM and Mr. Gabriel Odu, Assistant Director (Media).