Nigeria Deploys Technical Experts To Eastern Caribbean States
Nigeria has begun deploying technical experts to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s promise to strengthen Africa–Caribbean cooperation.
During a state visit to Saint Lucia on June 30, Tinubu announced the move as part of Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) programme, aimed at boosting collaboration in health, education, agriculture, and other sectors.
A technical manpower agreement was signed in Saint Lucia’s capital, Castries, outlining the deployment of skilled Nigerian professionals for two years. Nigeria will cover allowances and logistics, while host countries will provide accommodation and local support.
NTAC Director-General Yusuf Yakub confirmed deployments to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, and soon Grenada. Jamaica has also requested 400 experts and offered to pay for their services.
Tinubu also announced scholarships for OECS students to study in Nigeria, helping them reconnect with their roots.
“The programme, once dormant, has been revived under Tinubu’s foreign policy vision,” Yakub said, adding that NTAC now promotes cultural exchange and economic opportunities—such as Jamaica’s adoption and export of Nigeria’s Adire, now known locally as Jadire.
“This initiative boosts Nigeria’s global influence while creating dignified opportunities for its professionals,” Yakub added.
