Nigeria and Jamaica have signed an Agreement on Technical Assistance to deepen bilateral cooperation and expand the reach of Nigeriaโs Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Programme in Jamaica.
The agreement was signed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York following talks between Nigeriaโs Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Jamaicaโs Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith.
The signing was part of a series of bilateral engagements by Odumegwu-Ojukwu on the sidelines of the high-level meeting of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to a statement by the ministerโs Media Assistant, Dr Magnus Eze, the two ministers discussed measures to strengthen Nigeria-Jamaica relations and promote greater people-to-people exchanges.
Johnson Smith expressed Jamaicaโs appreciation for Nigeriaโs contribution to the countryโs development through the TAC Programme, particularly in health, education and local fabric artisanry.
She said Jamaica was interested in receiving more Nigerian professionals, especially nurses and teachers, through the programme.
The Jamaican minister noted that the TAC Programme had made a significant impact on communities across Jamaica, promoting not only technical skills but also cultural and creative exchanges between the two countries.
She cited โJADIREโ as an example of the programmeโs lasting influence. The concept combines Jamaican designs with Nigeriaโs traditional Adire tie-and-dye textile technique and was developed by Jamaican artisans after receiving training through the TAC Programme in 2018.
The ministers also agreed to explore additional areas of mutual interest through existing and other bilateral platforms.
The meeting ended with the formal signing of the agreement, which both countries said reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening longstanding bilateral relations and advancing practical cooperation for mutual benefit.
