By Danjuma Amodu
Nigeria has reinforced its diplomatic footprint in the Caribbean following the conclusion of a high-level three-nation tour by the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps. The agency has pledged deeper South-South cooperation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foreign policy agenda.
This is contained in a statement issued by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Director-General of NTAC. The visit to Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Barbados was carried out at the directive of President Tinubu during his State Visit to St Lucia last year.
The delegation was led by the Director-General of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub. He was joined by Amb. Bello A. Jaye, Director of Programmes, NTAC; Mrs. Dankaro Angye Ashumate, Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires a.i. in Grenada; and Mrs. Linda Hills, Head of Chancery.
Speaking to the agency’s media handlers over the weekend, Buba said the engagement reflects Nigeria’s national development priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The agenda focuses on economic growth, human capital development, and international cooperation.
He added that the tour marked a significant step in consolidating Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in the Caribbean. It also reaffirmed the country’s leadership in advancing South-South Cooperation through practical and development-oriented initiatives.
In Port of Spain, the delegation held strategic bilateral talks with the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs. The talks were led by the Honourable Minister, Sean Sobers, MP. Discussions centred on deepening collaboration in technical assistance, capacity building, education, healthcare, and cultural exchange. Buba said all areas of engagement align with Nigeria’s goal of promoting solidarity and sustainable development across the Global South.
In St George’s, the capital of Grenada, the team was received by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Andall. He commended “the positive impact of the NTAC Scheme in Grenada” and reaffirmed Grenada’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Nigeria.
The delegation also met with the Permanent Secretary of Grenada’s Ministry of Health, Ms Rhonda. The meeting explored expanded cooperation in healthcare delivery and technical assistance.
The Barbados leg of the tour took place in Bridgetown. It included engagements with the Minister of Educational Transformation, Hon. C. Sandra V. Husbands, MP, and the Permanent Secretary, Mr Patrick McCaskie. McCaskie stood in for the Ministry of Training and Tertiary Education.
The meeting was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. It aimed to deepen institutional partnerships, enhance capacity building, and foster mutually beneficial cooperation between Nigeria and Barbados, with technical assistance as the primary focus.
During the engagements, Buba emphasised Nigeria’s sustained commitment to South-South Cooperation through NTAC’s deployment of skilled Nigerian professionals. He said this supports human capital development and institutional strengthening.
He noted the interest of the Caribbean countries in Nigerian Nollywood films, attire, fashion, as well as agriculture and animal husbandry. He assured them of Nigeria’s readiness to provide technical expertise and knowledge exchange to address shared challenges in the health sector and other identified gaps.
The tour, according to NTAC, directly supports President Tinubu’s mandate to expand Nigeria’s diplomatic reach and foster shared prosperity across ACP countries. The Corps continues to serve as Nigeria’s flagship vehicle for deploying professionals and building strategic partnerships in key sectors across the Global South.
NTAC promotes South-South Cooperation, human capital development, and institutional strengthening.
