Foreign news

Rwanda’s Foreign Ministry Commends Tinubu, Says TAC Scheme, Remains the Best

Published

2 years ago

November 14, 2023

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.

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Foreign news

Pakistan Moves to Deepen Diplomatic, Economic Relations With Nigeria

Published

3 days ago

November 27, 2025

The Gleamer

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has called for deeper diplomatic and economic ties with the Nigerian government to foster development for both countries.

Mr Rana Ihsaan, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during his working vist to Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

NAN reports that the visiting Coordinator held a closed-door meeting with Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

After the meeting, he said that both both sides had agreed on deepening relations in the areas of trade and commerce, among others.

Ihsaan said that both countries must see the need to accelerate efforts towards a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

He said that Pakistan had already submitted a draft BTA and was awaiting Nigeria’s response.

According to him, discussions centered on easing visa processes, expanding educational exchanges, and strengthening Cooperation in sectors such as Minerals, Youth training, and Defence were highlighted.

Ihsaan said that Pakistan had already implemented visa-on-arrival for Nigerians at no cost, and urged Nigeria to reciprocate to enhance people-to-people ties.

He stressed the importance of high-level engagements between both nations, describing Nigeria and Pakistan as very similar countries with large populations, youthful demographics, and vast economic potentials.

“Deeper collaboration will unlock opportunities in trade, education and investment, while further solidifying long-standing diplomatic relations,” he said.

He said that aside from visiting the foriegn Minister and other top government officials in Nigeria, he was also in the country to attend the on-going West Africa Beauty Exhibition holding in Lagos.

He described the exhibition as one of the continent’s largest cosmetic fairs, adding that he led a delegation of 19 Pakistani business people exploring Nigeria’s estimated 10 million dollar beauty and cosmetics market.

Ihsaan said that Nigeria was a gateway to Africa, adding that Pakistani products, like cosmetics, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Food items and Sports goods were already gaining traction in the country.

He encouraged Pakistani exhibitors to establish offices, Warehouses and logistics partnerships to strengthen their foothold in the Nigerian market.

Ihsaan further addressed concerns from Nigerian businesses on the ease of doing business in Pakistan.

He said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan had been supporting Nigerian participants at major exhibitions to achieve the ease of doing business.

“The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) serves as a one-stop platform for Nigerians interested in investing in Pakistan,” he said

Culled from NAN

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