By Valentine Alexander 
In a move aimed at revitalising diplomatic relations and promoting human capital diplomacy, Nigeria has begun deploying skilled professionals to countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) under the renewed Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) programme. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, speaking during a state visit to Saint Lucia on Monday, unveiled this initiative as part of a broader foreign policy thrust to strengthen Africa–Caribbean cooperation through technical and educational exchange.
Technical Manpower Deployment: A Gateway to Collaboration
During a historic joint session of Saint Lucia’s Senate and House of Assembly, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to exporting human capital and technical expertise to sister nations in the Caribbean. The OECS—comprising small island states with a combined population of approximately 625,000—has become the latest recipient of Nigeria’s technical manpower assistance (TMA) programme. The cooperation agreement was officially signed in Castries, Saint Lucia’s capital, on Wednesday by Yusuf Yakub, NTAC Director-General, and Janelle Modeste-Stephen, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs. The signed agreement allows Nigerian professionals—including teachers, medical doctors, nurses, and agricultural experts to serve in Caribbean nations for two years. While Nigeria will cover their stipends and travel logistics, the host countries will provide accommodation and local support. This arrangement mirrors past NTAC deployments but comes with renewed energy and scale, following President Tinubu’s directive to revitalise the programme.
Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, praised the swift implementation of the president’s order, describing the agreement with Saint Lucia as “an outstanding achievement” that repositions Nigeria as a proactive player in South-South diplomacy.
In his remarks, Yakub highlighted that over 300 Nigerian professionals have been deployed under Tinubu’s administration to countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Jamaica. “This programme was nearly dormant,” he said, “but Mr. President revived it with his strong foreign policy vision.” He noted that several professionals are currently en route to Jamaica, while six Nigerian doctors are expected to arrive in Grenada by July 9.
Furthermore, Nigeria is engaging with other Caribbean nations like Belize and the Dominican Republic to establish a regional framework for consistent technical assistance. Yakub also revealed that Jamaica, impressed with the contributions of past volunteers, has formally requested 400 additional Nigerian experts and is willing to finance their deployment.
Beyond service, the NTAC initiative is fostering cultural exchange. One notable example is a Nigerian volunteer in Jamaica who popularised Adire, a traditional Yoruba textile art. Jamaicans have now adapted it under the name Jadire, producing and exporting it to the United States. This, according to Yakub, is a powerful example of soft diplomacy in action. Tinubu also announced scholarship opportunities for students from the OECS during his Saint Lucia address. “These students who will benefit from the scholarship will have a chance to reconnect with their roots and heritage,” Yakub added, reinforcing the initiative’s goal of cultural reconnection and Afro-descendant solidarity.
With this renewed NTAC strategy, Nigeria is not only exporting skilled labour but also projecting its influence, fostering shared development, and building lasting ties with countries that share historical and cultural bonds with Africa.
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