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Nigeria Advances its Big-brother Role in Africa as DTAC, Meet Volunteers, Education Minister, Others In Uganda

Published

3 years ago

November 9, 2023

Joel Ajayi

The Director-General, Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. ( Dr.) Yusuf Buba Yakub has said that the Technical Aid Corps Scheme remains an instrument of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy through which the President Tinubu Administration wishes to continue to deploy soft-power diplomacy to countries of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific in line with Nigeria’s President 4-D Agenda.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the DG, DTAC Nkem Anyata-Lafia.

Rt. Hon. Buba, stated this when he met separately with Volunteers serving in the TAC Scheme, Vice Chancellors of Universities hosting the Volunteers in Uganda as well as the Hon. Minister of Education and Sports in Kampala.

He also emphasized the enormous advantages that soft power wields over coercion in nation-to-nation relations.

Buba, who also observed that strong bilateral ties and relations had existed between Nigeria and Uganda even before the establishment of Country Missions in their both capital cities, reminded his diverse audiences that Nigeria recognized early its immense potential in human and natural resources and, therefore, took an Afro-centric stance to contribute to the development of sister- African countries as well as countries with sizable black populations across other continents in what is generally known as South-South co-operation.

He said the provision of manpower to such African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries was a deliberate move that was meant to not only bridge the gap in capacities lacking in those nations but to develop the needed skills among such host nations towards the attainment of self-reliance.

He said: “Uganda and Nigeria have come a long way. I recall that the first Chief Justice of Uganda, Justice Udo Udoma, was an eminent Nigerian jurist from today’s Cross River State. It is no wonder, therefore, that when the TAC Scheme came on board with the establishment of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps in 1987, Uganda became one of the first countries to receive Volunteers and benefit from the Scheme in 1988.

“About 35 years later, I am happy to observe that we have continued to deploy quality Volunteers to Uganda. These Volunteers, from what we have gathered in the course of this visitation and from what University authorities have, specifically, told us, have continued to discharge their duties with dexterity and knowledge and have been adjudged by all as worthy Ambassadors of the Nigerian nation, who have exemplified character, conduct and learning wherever they are currently serving, ” the erstwhile federal lawmaker noted.

Earlier, during interactions with the Volunteers at the Nigerian Mission in Kampala, where they had gathered to receive the DTAC delegation, most of the 75 Volunteers range from Senior Lecturers, Associate Professors, and Professors, among whom are Faculty Deans, Heads of Departments and Directors of Schools in the four different Universities where they are serving in Uganda, expressed appreciations for the benefits the TAC Scheme has provided to them to contribute to global development and to return to Nigeria better.

Also in the course of interactions with the Vice Chancellor of Kampala International University, Prof. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo, that of Cavendish University, Prof. John Mogisha as well as Associate Prof. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda of Islamic University in Uganda( IUIU), and the representative of the Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, who is also Dean, Faculty of Engineering in the institution, Prof.Moses N. Twesigye-Omwe, lauded the commitment of the TAC Volunteers to duty and professionalism.

The DTAC delegation was completely enthralled at the level of encomiums poured on the TAC Scheme Volunteers in the four citadels of higher learning where they are currently serving. The authorities of the various schools, it must be noted, are committed to receiving more Volunteers apart from expressing the wish to retain some of them whose two-year service tenure is nearing completion.

While also visiting the Hon. Minister for Education and Sports, the DTAC delegation was elated to note that the Hon.Minister of State for Primary Education, a Medical Consultant, Dr. Joyce Kalucha, who stood in for her colleague in the Higher Education section of the Ministry headed by Janet Museveni, the nation’s First Lady who also doubles as the substantive Minister of Education and Sports, was herself trained by a Nigerian Volunteer in the TAC Scheme in the early years of the Scheme.

The Ugandan team, which apart from the Hon.Minister of State, comprises the Commissioner for Higher Education, Timothy Musoke Ssejjoba; the Director, of Higher Education; Dr.Sophia Museene and Mpyangu Godfrey Andrew, Senior Assistant Secretary, among others, informed the Nigerian delegation of ongoing reforms in the Ugandan education sector.

The team requested support from DTAC in order to bridge the identified gaps in such areas as Oil and Gas Engineering/Technology, Aviation Engineering/Technology, the Sciences, and Artificial Intelligence, among other areas.

The DTAC delegation, led by the DG, Rt. Hon.Buba, and comprising Amb.Mohammed Mohammed, Director of Programmes; Mr.Idris Saidu, Ag.Director, Finance and Accounts and Mrs Rahila Ayuba Kaura,Ag. Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, also met with the Permanent Secretary, of the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where commitment was also elicited for more collaboration, cooperation, and strengthening of existing ties in areas relevant to the TAC Scheme.

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Eight Athletes, 11 Medals: Applauding Asagba’s Sports Leadership At DELSU

Published

2 weeks ago

October 14, 2026

The Gleamer

By Godspower Odedede

Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has recorded an impressive outing at the 15th West Africa University Games (WAUG) 2026, winning 11 medals with just eight athletes who represented the university in only three sporting events.

The university won seven gold, two silver and two bronze medals to occupy seventh position on the medal table, an achievement that underscores the potential of its athletes and the importance of purposeful investment in university sports.

DELSU participated in the men’s 100-metre sprint with two athletes, women’s judo with two athletes, and swimming with four male athletes. Despite the limited number of athletes and sporting events, the university’s medal haul was a commendable performance and a source of pride for the institution.

The achievement deserves particular recognition given the restricted scope of DELSU’s participation. With representation in only three sports, the university demonstrated that focused preparation, adequate support and the effective deployment of available talent can produce encouraging results at major university competitions.

A major highlight of DELSU’s preparation for WAUG 2026 was the approval by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, for a quality two-week training programme for the university’s athletes in Asaba.

The camp provided the athletes with an opportunity to prepare using the excellent and up-to-date training facilities available in the state capital.

The initiative is particularly noteworthy as it represents a significant commitment to structured preparation for university sports. Rather than relying solely on athletes’ natural abilities, the training programme recognised the importance of preparation, access to appropriate facilities and institutional investment in performance.

Professor Asagba deserves commendation for this intervention and for demonstrating a willingness to provide practical support for sports development at DELSU. The university’s WAUG performance offers an encouraging indication of what can be achieved when athletes receive purposeful preparation and administrative backing.

The Vice-Chancellor’s broader vision for sports infrastructure is also encouraging. Plans are understood to be underway for the construction of an ultra-modern sports complex for the university in the near future. If delivered as anticipated, the facility could significantly strengthen DELSU’s capacity for athlete development, training, competitions and sports science activities.

Such infrastructure would also support the university’s ambitions to improve its performance at national and international university games. A modern sports complex could provide a foundation for more systematic talent identification, performance monitoring, coaching development and the preparation of athletes across a wider range of sporting events.

Special recognition must also go to Mrs Epebi-Ebi Noah, the swimming coach, who was physically present at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, with the DELSU swimming team during the competition. Her presence and involvement underline the importance of coaching support, technical guidance and close supervision of athletes during major sporting events.

The performance also calls for commendation of the Chairman of the University Sports Committee, Professor Ochuko Nabofa, whose leadership has brought renewed attention and energy to sports development at DELSU. His role in supporting the university’s sports administration and helping to strengthen the sporting environment deserves recognition.

Similarly, the Acting Director of Sports, Peter Omojuwa, deserves commendation for his administrative responsibilities and contribution to the university’s sporting programme. The Chief Coach, Lucky Ajaino, should also be recognised for his role in the technical preparation and development of DELSU athletes.

The combined efforts of the university management, sports committee, sports administrators and coaches are essential to sustaining progress. While medals provide a visible measure of success, the systems established to prepare athletes and support their development are equally important to the long-term growth of university sports.

DELSU’s WAUG achievement follows another notable outing at the last Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games, where the university finished fourth. That result was regarded as one of the finest performances in the institution’s sporting history and strengthened expectations that DELSU could become an even more formidable force in university sports.

The latest WAUG performance provides another reason for optimism. However, the university’s participation in only three events also reveals an opportunity for further growth. Expanding participation across more sports, identifying talented students and improving access to specialised training could help DELSU compete for a higher position on future medal tables.

The proposed sports complex, if realised, could play a central role in this expansion. It should ideally be supported by sustained funding, modern equipment, qualified coaches, athlete welfare programmes and collaboration with relevant sports science professionals. These measures would help ensure that infrastructure investment translates into measurable improvements in performance.

The university could also consider strengthening performance analysis, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, talent identification and systematic monitoring of athletes’ progress. Such an approach would help transform individual successes into a sustainable university-wide sports development programme.

DELSU’s performance at WAUG 2026 is worthy of celebration. Eight athletes competed in just three sporting events and returned with 11 medals, including seven gold. The result reflects the potential within the university and provides a strong basis for building a more ambitious sports programme.

Professor Asagba’s approval of the two-week training camp and the prospect of an ultra-modern sports complex offer reasons to look forward to the next phase of DELSU sports development. The challenge now is to sustain the momentum, broaden participation and ensure that the university’s sporting ambitions are matched by consistent investment and effective implementation.

With continued support from the Vice-Chancellor, the University Sports Committee, the Directorate of Sports, coaches and other stakeholders, DELSU can build on its recent achievements and strengthen its position among Nigeria’s leading sporting universities.

The message from WAUG 2026 is clear: DELSU has demonstrated what a small but well-supported contingent can achieve. With broader participation, sustained preparation and modern sporting infrastructure, the university has the potential to accomplish even greater things.

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