Foreign news
Rwanda’s Foreign Ministry Commends Tinubu, Says TAC Scheme, Remains the Best
Joel Ajayi
Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation has lauded President Bola Tinubu on the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme, describing it as a noble and truest platform for the promotion of Pan-Africanism.
This is in a statement issued by Mr Nkem Anyata-Lafia, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General (DG) of the Technical Aid Corps in Africa (DTAC).
It will be recalled that the DTAC boss and some senior staff embarked on a four-day Administrative, Monitoring, and Evaluation exercise in four countries in East Africa.
Also, the team will monitor the TAC volunteers in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Seychelles.
Anyata-Lafia said that the Minister of State, Mr James Kabarebe, said this in Kigali when the ministry received the delegation of DTAC led by Dr. Yakub.
He also commended Tinubu’s administration for the big brother approach.
Anyata-Lafia also extolled Tinubu’s gesture for continuing to advance the course of development through technology transfer, skills acquisition, and scholarship for African people.
Kabarebe said that, although Nigeria, like other nations of the world, had its own challenges, its commitment to the leadership and development of Africa and some parts of the globe through soft-power diplomacy remained laudable and worthy of emulation.
He said that Nigeria has continued to use its huge population, size, and early advancement in matters of education to benefit all parts of Africa.
The minister reminicenced the positive inspiration projected by writers such as, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and Cyprian Ekwensi, among many others.
Kabarebe said, “These were not only an instrument of soft power that sold Nigeria to the world, but was all that Nigeria needed to stamp its authority as a global super player in world affairs.
Furthermore, he highlighted the huge gap between other African countries and their goals, adding that TAC deserves Africa’s support.
The minister promised that the ministry would leverage the existing cordial relations between Rwanda and Nigeria to strengthen their cooperation through the scheme.
Speaking earlier, Yakub said that the delegation was in Rwanda to monitor, evaluate and as well to review the activities of the TAC volunteer scheme in its recipient countries and among the volunteers.
He added that the visit was also aimed at allowing him to meet and familiarise with State officials and other stakeholders in the TAC scheme across parts of Africa after being appointed to head the agency by Tinubu.
The DTAC delegation also met with the Minister of State for Education, Ms Claudette Irere, Nigeria’s High Commissioner of Nigeria in Kigali, Amb. Suleiman Sani and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance), University of Rwanda, Ms Francoise Kayitore.
They also visited the remaining volunteer of the TAC scheme at the University of Rwanda, Dr Nasiru Sani, a Health Information and Community Medicine expert, among others.
Foreign news
California Transport Agency Seeks Partnership With NiDCOM On Creative Arts, Others
California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) on Friday sought the partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on creative arts, climate change, green jobs, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion and technology industries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a three-man CalSTA delegation led by its Secretary, Mr Toks Omishakin, said this while paying a courtesy visit to Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, in Abuja.Omishakin said that CalSTA was one of the global largest agencies that had leading policies around the world in relations to climate change.
He added that for the last 40 to 50 years, the agency had engaged governments around the world to establish policies with better outcomes and impacts for the environment, including climate change.
According to him, Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and for many years, the country has led African continent with her broad economy.
“So, very rarely that California engages countries in Africa, most of our agreements are with countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.
“California does not have any agreement with countries in Africa when it comes to improving green jobs related to climate change .
“This visit is about how we can potentially set up a California-Nigerian partnership that is specifically addressing issues around climate change, green jobs, technology, creative arts and CNG conversion, these are the areas we want to specifically concentrate on.
“For instance, the creative arts industry all around the world, people know the industry that you call Nollywood, and Afro-beats more than ever.
“In addition, when it comes to United States of America’s creative industry like Hollywood, where a lot of film production happens, movies are made, TV shows are filmed just few miles way from Los Angeles.
“But when it comes to music like the Grammys and award shows for musicians across the world, it is held in Los Angeles, in the State of California.“Furthermore, when it comes to music in Africa. Nigeria is the epic centre for both music industry and movie industry and it’s the same thing for California, so there’s potential for partnership”, Omishakin said.
Responding, Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of NiDCOM expressed appreciation for the visit led by Omishakin, a Nigerian-American who made Nigeria and the United States proud.
According to her, Nigerians are the best anywhere in the world and Omishakin is an example of Nigerians who are excelling in different fields all around the world.
“We are glad to welcome you home and we are glad that you’re talking business , and how California will be investing in Africa and Nigeria specifically.
“On your visit, you will see a lot of sectors where there can be more partnership with Nigeria.
“Also, part of your visit and tour, you will be meeting with the Transportation Minister and you will see one of the CNG conversion centres at the SMEDAN office, and also you will see products that are made in Nigeria that can be exported to California.
“Most importantly, we look forward to the partnership, bearing in mind that Nigeria is the biggest on the continent”, NiDCOM boss said.
She expressed optimism that in spite of the challenges facing Nigeria, the country would grow economically under President Bola Tinubu Administration.
The NiDCOM boss, who said that the President’s agenda was to build a one trillion economy, added that Nigerians needed to believe in government and themselves as well.
NAN reports that members of CalSTA delegation, who paid the courtesy visit included Mr Aditya Ramji, a Professor from the University of California, and Mr Giles Giovinazzi, Senior Advisor for CalSTA.
NAN
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