ABUJA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria is drawing inspiration from China's successful soft power diplomacy as it seeks to project its global influence and strengthen South-South cooperation through the deployment of expert volunteers and skilled labor, the head of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) said Thursday.
Speaking at a media interaction in Abuja, NTAC Director General Yusuf Buba Yakub cited China's model of international engagement as an example of building long-term goodwill through cooperation.
"That is what China is using, soft power diplomacy," Yakub said, adding that the Chinese achieved success by going out and making friendships.
"When you are contributing to the life of somebody, you make friends. So that's soft power, and that's what we are doing," Yakub noted.
Yakub said Nigeria's commitment to technical assistance is rooted in the principle of mutual support among developing countries.
"The reason for establishing the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps was the spirit of South-South cooperation. We will be contributing our experts in that regard," he said. According to him, the target of the corps is to reach the developing part of the world.
Established in 1987, the NTAC scheme has deployed more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals to over 40 countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The volunteers provide expertise in fields including education, medicine, law, engineering, agriculture and technology.
The agency is also expanding into structured labor export programs, which Yakub said would generate foreign exchange while providing opportunities for Nigerian professionals to work abroad.
Yakub noted that countries such as Jamaica have already expressed strong interest in hiring Nigerian experts under the bilateral arrangements. ■