By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews) The Director General, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Nigeria, (DTAC), Dr. Yusuf Buba Yakub has initiated efforts to deepen collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission( NiDCOM )to Advance National Interest.
Dr Buba Yakub began the collaboration efforts with a visit to NIDCOM Boss, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja on Wednesday, a statement by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the DG, DTAC stated.
Following the visit, DTAC and NiDCOM agreed to strengthen collaboration as a way of advancing and working together for the achievement of the good intentions of the Tinubu Administration in the areas of the common interests.of DTAC and NIDCOM.
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.
Dr Buba explained that 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
The DTAC Boss also stated that he planned to widen its scope of coverage, noting that the use of soft-power diplomacy remained the best 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 meant 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 expressed the hope that the Diasporans could be made the greatest marketers of the Nigerian dream as against the present situation where the Diasporans hardly see the Missions as home abroad.
Dr. Buba 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) (Flowerbudnews
Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the DG, DTAC
