The newly appointed Nigerian High Commissioner, Godson Echegile has stressed the need to “strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries through the Technical Aid Corps (TAC),” stated a media release from the commission.
According to the release, the commissioner advised institutions benefiting from the Nigerian government sponsored TAC programme to send in requests before the end of July this year.
Commissioner Echegile said, “requests sent later than this month will not be considered by the Board in Abuja, Nigeria”, the report stated.
The Nigerian envoy commended the peaceful conduct of the just concluded local government elections noting that “peace was crucial to development and stability in the region”.
The Envoy is quoted to have reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to TAC and ensured socio-economic development in the region and beyond.
During his three day visit to Bo and Kenema, the High Commissioner met the principal of the Eastern Polytechnic Dr Sandy Bockarie and the proprietress of Haikal Academy Hayija Hawa Turay as well as 26 TAC lecturers in the two institutions.
In his remarks, Dr Bockarie commended the High Commissioner for the visit pointing out that the TAC programme was beneficial to the institution. “The Polytechnic depends mostly on the programme to source for lecturers in various fields of endeavor in the school,” he said.
Hayija Turay of the Haikal Academy recounted the contributions made by TAC lecturers to her institution, saying Nigerian lecturers assisted her to establish several departments and set up the school library.
TAC is a programme initiated and sponsored by Nigeria to provide technical expertise by sending professionals and lecturers in health, education, law engineering, banking, science and technology to developing countries in Africa, the Pacific and Asia.
Currently, about 40 Nigerian lecturers are serving in various institutions in Sierra Leone, namely: Fourah Bay College, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Eastern Polytechnique, Harford School for Girls, Milton Margai College of Education and Technology and many more.
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