Nigeria has signed a historic Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) agreement with Saint Lucia, paving the way for the deployment of skilled Nigerian professionals to the Caribbean nation and other members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The agreement was formalized on Wednesday at the Ministry of External Affairs in Castries, with the Director-General of Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC), Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, and Saint Lucia’s Acting Permanent Secretary for External Affairs, Janelle Modeste-Stephen, as signatories.
The initiative follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent diplomatic visit to Saint Lucia and forms part of his administration’s renewed push to expand Nigeria’s international engagement, especially within the Global South.
“This agreement is a direct outcome of President Tinubu’s directive to revive and expand Nigeria’s technical aid to Caribbean and OECS nations,” Yakub said after the signing ceremony. “It is a landmark achievement.”
Skilled Nigerian Volunteers Set for Deployment
Under the TMA arrangement, Nigeria will send expert volunteers—including teachers, doctors, agricultural professionals, and engineers—on two-year assignments to Saint Lucia and other participating Caribbean nations. While Nigeria will cover their allowances and travel expenses, the host countries will provide housing and local support.
Yakub emphasized that the initiative is not only about manpower deployment but also about reconnecting with shared African-Caribbean heritage through cultural and educational exchanges.
“These students and communities will benefit from more than skills—they’ll experience cultural reconnection and shared identity,” he added.
Part of a Larger Global Strategy
The TMA deal represents one of the first formal agreements stemming from Tinubu’s new 4D foreign policy doctrine—Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography. Yakub noted that since he assumed office in August 2023, over 300 Nigerian professionals have been deployed to countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Jamaica under the revitalized TAC programme.
“This programme was nearly dormant. President Tinubu’s vision has revived it with new energy and strategy,” Yakub stated.
Additional deployments are currently underway. According to the TAC boss, four nurses will travel to Jamaica this week, and six doctors are scheduled to leave for Grenada on July 9.
Cultural and Economic Impacts
The TAC programme has already begun to deliver cultural dividends. Yakub cited the example of a Nigerian volunteer in Jamaica who introduced the Adire fabric-making craft, which has now evolved locally as “Jadire”, gaining popularity and even being exported to the United States.
The programme is also attracting economic interest. Yakub revealed that Jamaica has formally requested 400 Nigerian professionals, with financial provisions in place, signaling a potential shift from Asia-sourced labor to Nigerian-trained experts.
“We are exporting Nigeria’s human capital with dignity. This is strategic diplomacy that creates jobs and strengthens national image,” he said.
Broader Regional Collaboration in View
Nigeria is currently in talks with other Caribbean countries—including Belize, the Dominican Republic, and the OECS Commission—to develop a regional framework for coordinated technical assistance.
Yakub concluded that the programme aligns closely with Nigeria’s long-term global engagement strategy and contributes meaningfully to cultural diplomacy, professional development, and mutual growth.
“This is diplomacy with a human face. It’s about building bridges through people, knowledge, and shared heritage,” he said.
The agreement with Saint Lucia is expected to serve as a model for future engagements across the Caribbean and other developing regions.