By Maureen Okon
Abuja: Dr Yusuf Yakub, the new Director-General, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC), says he will focus on strengthening soft-power diplomacy in promoting Nigeria’s interest.
Yakubu said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Nkem Anyata-Lafia, his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Yakub said he would work with NiDCOM to strengthen collaboration in areas of common interest beneficial to Nigeria.
He explained that the DTAC was 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.
He added that DTAC aimed to widen its scope of coverage through the use of soft-power diplomacy, which remains the way to go in a world where instruments of coercion were no longer needed to wield influence.
The DG said that the visit to NiDCOM was to share his vision for synergy and collaboration to strengthen the mandates of both agencies in deepening relations with the global community.
He said that the collaboration was important because every deployed volunteer from DTAC is automatically a member of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Yakub urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to work with Nigerian Missions to serve as the greatest marketers of the Nigerian dream, “as against the present situation where the Diasporans hardly see the Missions as home abroad”.
“I also propose 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,” he added.
Responding, the NiDCOM Chairman said she was optimistic that collaboration with DTAC would be in the best interest of the nation.
Dabiri-Erewa urged the DG to deploy his experience as a former Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to advance Nigeria’s interest across the globe. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews
