News
FG Deploys New Batch of Volunteers to The Gambia
FG Deploys New Batch of Volunteers to The Gambia
By: Michael Mike
A new batch of volunteers of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps has been deployed to The Gambia.
The 11 Volunteers, who comprised professionals from diverse backgrounds, including Law, Engineering and expertise in Entrepreneurial Studies, were urged to see their new charge as a call to serve humanity.
Speaking during the Pre-departure Orientation for the Volunteers, Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt.Hon.Yusuf Buba Yakub, congratulated the Volunteers on being among the very few beneficiaries of the 37-year-old Scheme chosen from a long list of over 10,000 applicants when the agency advertised late last year.
Buba also called on the Volunteers to embody the values of integrity and simplicity and to portray Nigeria in positive light as Technical Diplomats in the recipient country. He highlighted that Nigeria’s approach to international relations is based on soft diplomacy, contrasting it with other nations that might rely on coercion.

He said: “You are called Volunteers because you are going out there to serve humanity in The Gambia.Even if it is half a room that you are given to live in,please, accept it and commit to what you have been sent to do there.Always bear in mind that you are there to represent Nigeria.
“On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,we are sending you to share with our sister African nation the abundant human resources our country possesses.
“As your parents here,the Nigerian High Commission in The Gambia with our High Commissioner there will be your guardian.”
While admonishing the Volunteers to see themselves not as individuals,but as Nigeria itself,the TAC DG said whatever the Volunteers do in their host country would be seen as the action of the country,hence the need to always stay above board.
He also added that the Scheme, which was established in 1987 through the visionary minds of our past leaders was one important instrument of Diplomacy by which Nigeria has continued to make friends and carve partnerships across the world.Such friendships and partnerships,he said, usually come handy in periods of expediency.
Buba also used the occasion to inform of the recent visit of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia,Mr Dawuda Jawara,who used the opportunity to identify some of the skills that are lacking in their country and requested TAC to rise in filling those gaps identified.He then challenged the Volunteers to do all that was considered necessary to rise up to the situation at hand in that country.
Earlier,while presenting the Volunteers to the TAC DG,Director of Programmes at the Agency,Amb.Zakari Usman,tasked the Volunteers to carry high the flag of the country like other participants in the Scheme before them.He said it was by doing so that the objectives of the Scheme would be adequately realized.He encouraged the Volunteers to also adhere to the dos and don’ts of the TAC Scheme,adding that this would only be possible if they upheld the highest standards of conduct and integrity while representing the country abroad.
Team Lead of the batch of Volunteers, Oyetunji Akinlabi, a Professor of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, thanked the Federal Government for the opportunity given to the Volunteers to serve their country. He pledged that, in line with Section 19 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), the Volunteers will strive to promote the nation’s national interest and also at all times seek to engage in activities that are geared towards the promotion and preservation of African unity.
Among those who spoke for the Volunteers were Dr. Hope Tebira, a Deputy Director and Legal Draftsperson at the National Assembly, and Barr.Joseph Okete. They each pledged to ensure that the nationals of their host country received more than what they had requested from Nigeria.
The new batch of Volunteers will serve for 24 months in the Gambia in line with the statutory terms of engagement with the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC).
FG Deploys New Batch of Volunteers to The Gambia
News
NTAC DG Celebrates Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at 65, Commends His National Service Credentials
NTAC DG Celebrates Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at 65, Commends His National Service Credentials
By: Michael Mike
Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt.Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub has commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for his trailblazing leadership as the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and for his current role as the National Security Adviser.
The NTAC boss , who made the commendations on Saturday in Abuja, while celebrating the foremost lawyer and public servant, who turned 65 on Friday, also lauded Ribadu for steering Nigeria through complex security challenges with courage and integrity, stating that this has set an enduring example for all public officers to emulate.
In a message he personally signed and made available the media in Abuja,Buba emphasized the great roles Mallam Ribadu has continued to play in the evolution of the Nigerian state.
He said: “I have the honour to refer to the above subject-matter and avail myself of the opportunity of this auspicious moment to celebrate you, Dear Leader and Brother, on the occasion of your birthday celebration this year.
“Yesterday again marked yet another milestone of wisdom, dedication, and service as you celebrated 65 years of life, many of which you have invested in the service of our nation and humanity at large.
“Without the risk of reciting the obvious, Sir,
your trailblazing leadership as the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where you transformed the fight against corruption, and now as the National Security Adviser, steering Nigeria through complex security challenges with courage and integrity, has set an enduring example for all of us to emulate.
“Your legacy of principled reform, selfless service, and steadfast patriotism continues to inspire countless Nigerians, especially the young professionals and Volunteers we work with every day. May Allah (SWT) continue to strengthen you for greater wisdom and performance as you age in wealth and wellness.
“For myself, my dear family and on behalf of the Management and staff of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), where with your kind support I have served as DG these past years, I extend heartfelt congratulations to you, Sir, on this remarkable milestone and solemn achievement.
“May Allah grant you good health, long life, and the special wisdom to keep guiding our nation toward peace, security, and prosperity.
“We pray that the years ahead bring you abundant joy, fulfillment, and the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of your tireless efforts in many more years of blessings.”
NTAC DG Celebrates Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at 65, Commends His National Service Credentials
Crime
Jihadist reportedly overrun gendarmerie camp in niger, kill 21 officers
Jihadist reportedly overrun gendarmerie camp in niger, kill 21 officers
By: Zagazola MAkama
Suspected jihadists on Friday attacked and seized control of the Gendarmerie Camp in Garbougna, Niger Republic, killing more than 21 gendarmes, according to security sources.
The attackers, believed to be affiliated with Sahel-based extremist groups, stormed the facility in large numbers, overwhelming security personnel during the early morning assault.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the insurgents also carted away several vehicles, along with a significant quantity of arms and ammunition stored at the camp.
“The situation is dire. The Garbougna gendarmerie post was overrun, and dozens of weapons and vehicles were taken. The number of casualties is still being compiled, but more than 21 gendarmes are feared killed,” one security source said.

The attack underscores the escalating insecurity in parts of Niger, where jihadist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State continue to mount coordinated assaults on security formations and rural communities.
Niger’s military authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident as at the time of filing this report.
Zagazola recalls that the tri-border region spanning Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso has witnessed intensified jihadist activities in recent months, with security forces increasingly targeted in ambushes and camp raids.
Jihadist reportedly overrun gendarmerie camp in niger, kill 21 officers
News
Tuggar Appeals to Broadcaster to Promote Nigeria’s Information Sovereignty
Tuggar Appeals to Broadcaster to Promote Nigeria’s Information Sovereignty
By: Michael Mike
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has emphasized the critical role of independent broadcasters in promoting the country’s information sovereignty, national cohesion, and digital security.
Represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, at the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN) 2025 Annual General Meeting and Conference, on Thursday, Tuggar stressed that the broadcast sector is a key player in shaping Nigeria’s global narrative and ensuring internal stability.
The event’s theme, “Broadcasting for Information Sovereignty, National Cohesion and Digital Security,” according to the minister aligns with the nation’s foreign policy objectives.
He urged broadcasters to produce locally relevant content, counter disinformation, and bridge ethnic and cultural divides, adding that a united Nigeria commands greater international respect.
He also highlighted the need for robust digital security measures to protect against cyber threats and misinformation campaigns, warning that breaches in the sector could undermine national security.
He called for stronger collaboration between the government and media to safeguard Nigeria’s information ecosystem and project a positive global image.
The conference aimed to address the evolving challenges of broadcasting in a digital age.
Tuggar Appeals to Broadcaster to Promote Nigeria’s Information Sovereignty
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