Achievements And Challenges Of Technical Aid Corps As A Foreign Policy Tool

ABSTRACT

. The Technical Aid Corps Scheme is conceived by the Federal Government of Nigeria as an instrument of economic diplomacy. The ultimate aim of the programme is to promote Nigerias economic interest and boost her image in the comity of nations. However, despite the huge investment, Nigeria has not leveraged on the opportunities provided by TAC as a policy instrument to harvest economic and other dividends from the recipient states. The aim of the study therefore is to assess the scheme with a view to making appropriate recommendations. Frequency Analysis was used in analyzing data for the research.

A total of eighty five (85) Questionnaires were administered to staff in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Technical Aid Corps whose responses formed the basis of analysis. Although the study has highlighted a lot of prospects and opportunities for the Scheme, factors such as poor funding, lack of adequate technical skills, and poor planning among others, pose serious challenges. In order to address this, the researcher has recommended adequately funding the scheme to fully meet up with its responsibilities, among other recommendations.