On the 31^st August 2026 The Nigerian High Commission in Kigali hosted the official handover ceremony for 18 Nigerian professors who have been deployed to support Rwanda's higher education sector through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC).

Of the 18 professors, 10 will be deployed to the Protestant University of Rwanda (PUR), while eight will serve at the Catholic University of Rwanda (CUR). They will serve for a two-year period in academic areas identified by the two universities as critical needs.

The ceremony brought together representatives from the Nigerian High Commission, the Protestant University of Rwanda, and the Catholic University of Rwanda.

Nigeria's Human Capital as a Tool for African Development

The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) was established in 1987 under an Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the administration of President Ibrahim Babangida.  The programme was created as an alternative to direct financial assistance, focusing instead on sharing Nigeria's human resources and professional expertise with developing countries.

The Corps operates under the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and promotes South-South cooperation, diplomatic relations, and human capital development. Since its establishment, NTAC has deployed thousands of volunteers to more than 40 countries across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Volunteers are drawn from fields including academia, medicine, engineering, and other technical disciplines, typically serving fixed two-year assignments. Currently, there are 46 NTAC volunteers deployed across universities in Rwanda.

Welcoming delegations from the two universities, Ambassador Ibrahim Zanna, Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Rwanda, explained the purpose of the programme and the reasoning behind Nigeria's decision to deploy its professionals to Rwanda.

He said Nigeria considers its human capital one of its greatest blessings and believes that African countries should use their own expertise to address the continent’s challenges.

"We have human capital, and I will say this is our blessing. That is why we have chosen to solve African problems with our local solutions and make it a better place”.

                                      "They are going to teach, but they are Researchers"

Before formally handing over the volunteers, Ambassador Zanna said the programme is intended to promote South-South cooperation and contribute to making Africa a continent of excellence.

He said the professors should not view their assignment solely as an opportunity to teach, but also as a chance to conduct research and strengthen collaboration between universities.

"They are going to teach, but they are researchers. They will contribute a lot."

He encouraged the professors to build professional networks during their time in Rwanda.

"Please use it to build more networks."

He also stressed the importance of collaboration among African researchers.

"I believe one of the things that will move Africa is collaboration between African researchers beyond capacity building. Kindly keep going and do research. I believe this will be a catalyst for the other programmes."

He noted that many of the volunteers had left their jobs and professional commitments in Nigeria to contribute to Rwanda’s development. According to the ambassador, the ultimate goal is to build capacity and contribute to African development by sharing what Nigeria has, particularly its human capital and talent.

"It is our time to solve African problems with our own solutions."

Supporting Critical Areas at Both Universities

At the Protestant University of Rwanda, the 10 professors will support programmes in Information Technology, Urban Planning, Environmental Studies, Architecture and Green Technologies, and Project Management.

At the Catholic University of Rwanda, the eight professors will contribute to programmes in English Literature, Accounting, Linguistics, Finance, Medical Biology, and Information Technology.

The professors are expected to contribute to teaching and research while sharing their knowledge and experience with students and fellow academics.

Under the arrangement, the host universities will provide accommodation and security, while the Government of Nigeria will provide stipends to the volunteers.

A Milestone in Rwanda-Nigeria Cooperation

Speaking on behalf of the host institutions, Prof. Olu Ojedokun thanked the Nigerian government and the High Commission for the initiative.

He noted that the Protestant University of Rwanda is among the institutions in Rwanda with expertise by the Nigerian in urban planning and water resource management and said the university was ready to make use of the expertise brought by professors.

"We are going to use these talents to transform life, not only in Rwanda, but across Africa."

He assured the professors that they would be welcomed with great hospitality as they begin their work in Rwanda.

 The deployment marks another milestone in the growing cooperation between Rwanda and Nigeria, particularly in education, research, and human capital development. It also demonstrates how African countries can work together and share their expertise to address challenges facing the continent

Rather than depending entirely on support from outside Africa, programmes such as NTAC demonstrate that African countries have the capacity to contribute knowledge, skills, and human capital to one another.

As Ambassador Ibrahim Zanna emphasized, Africa has the talent and human capital needed to contribute to its own development.

"It is our time to solve African problems with our own solutions."

Written by Moise IRADUKUNDA, PUR Student