Nigeria, Namibia push for closer cooperation

In an effort to deepen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Namibia, the latter expressed interest in studying the operations of the Nigerian Technical Assistance Corps and reaffirmed its commitment to the ideals of the Nigeria-Namibia Joint Cooperation Commission.

This was the highlight of discussions held between the Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Humphrey Geiseb, and the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Assistance Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, during a visit by the Namibian Envoy to the Technical Assistance Corps office in Abuja.

While noting that the commendable impacts of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme in recent years in their country left no doubt about its desirability, Amb. Geiseb said Nigeria remains a big brother nation that has made immense contributions to Namibia’s independence struggles and the country’s development in several sectors including Health, Agriculture, Education, Oil and Gas and Economy even before the country gained independence.

He recalled that some of the best civil and public service professionals, who became permanent secretaries, directors, as well as medical professionals and teachers, whose willingness ensured a smooth transition from their colonial masters to newly independent Namibia, were trained by Nigerians.

He again commended the TAC Scheme for being the medium through which his country has today achieved an abundance of medical professionals and teachers, who are even ready to export their skills to other countries. He added that one of the reasons for his visit was also to learn best practices from the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps in its operations, including looking at ways to, in the near future, call on some identified skills that may still be lacking in their country.

Ambassador Geiseb also used the occasion of the visit to urge for greater efforts at ministerial level between Nigeria and Namibia to revive the noble objectives of the Nigeria-Namibia Joint Cooperation Commission, while stressing that hosting a new session of the Joint Commission established in 2000 and last convened fourteen years ago would strengthen bilateral ties and promote the identified interests of both countries.

Responding, the DG of TAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, expressed gratitude to the Namibian envoy for the visit. He reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu administration to continue providing technical assistance to sister nations in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific and commended the vision of the founding fathers of the TAC programme, which he noted, over the past 37 years has broken geographical barriers imposed between brothers, ensured the transfer of technical expertise and fostered cultural exchanges, among other benefits.

He said that although much has changed over time between the two countries in the area of ​​hosting Corps volunteers, the TAC will not hesitate to respond to Namibia’s requests in any area of ​​technical need or protection, whenever such requests come. The TAC head also assured his visitor that in the coming days he will request an audience with the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to communicate Namibia’s interest in convening a new session of the Joint Commission.

Among those present at the meeting were the Director of Administration at the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Amb. Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed; the Director of Programmes, Amb. Zakari Usman and Ms. Meimunat Haruna Mustapha, Deputy Director and Chief Accounts Officer at the Agency.

Among others, Mr. Lawal Adekola, Deputy Director in charge of Internal Audit, Ms. Caroline Osimnobi of the Accounting Department and Mr. Lawandy Bala, Special Assistant to the Director General on Protocol Matters.

The Namibian envoy was accompanied on the visit by Mr Morris Sisinzi, Under-Secretary at the Namibian High Commission in Abuja.

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