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DTAC To Focus On Soft-Power Diplomacy in Promoting Nigeria’s Interest-DG
The Director-General, of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps DTAC, Dr Yusuf Yakub has said that he will focus on strengthening soft-power diplomacy in promoting Nigeria’s interests.
Yakubu said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO, of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Nkem Anyata-Lafia, his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Yakub said he would work with NiDCOM to strengthen collaboration in areas of common interest beneficial to Nigeria.
He explained that the DTAC was in the business of promoting the nation’s bilateral and multilateral ties across the globe through the deployment of technical aid to African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries.
He added that DTAC aimed to widen its scope of coverage through the use of soft-power diplomacy, which remains the way to go in a world where instruments of coercion were no longer needed to wield influence.
The DG said that the visit to NiDCOM was to share his vision for synergy and collaboration to strengthen the mandates of both agencies in deepening relations with the global community.
He said that the collaboration was important because every deployed volunteer from DTAC is automatically a member of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Yakub urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to work with Nigerian Missions to serve as the greatest marketers of the Nigerian dream, “as against the present situation where the Diasporans hardly see the Missions as home abroad”.
“I also propose the establishment of a Desk Office manned by NiDCOM officers, who will ensure a smooth and seamless liaison between the Missions and the Diasporans in the bid to fully involve them in driving foreign direct investments for Nigeria,” he added.
Responding, the NiDCOM Chairman said she was optimistic that collaboration with DTAC would be in the best interest of the nation.
Dabiri-Erewa urged the DG to deploy his experience as a former Chairman of, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to advance Nigeria’s interest across the globe.
NAN.
News
AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs
By James Samuel, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.
This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.
“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.
“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”
He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.
“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.
He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.
“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.
She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.
“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.
The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.
The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.
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