By Rohey Samba
The Nigerian government has deployed a team of 20 health experts to The Gambia to strengthen the country’s health services, as part of a technical assistance agreement between the two nations.
The medical team arrived in The Gambia on Saturday, August 30, 2025. The Nigerian High Commission to The Gambia hosted a warm reception for them on Monday, 1st September 2025, at the Nigerian High Commission office in Bakau.
During the event, Muhammed Ousman Mainasara, the Charge d’Affaires of the Nigerian High Commission, welcomed the team to “The Smiling Coast of Africa.” He noted that since the signing of the Technical Assistance Agreement between Nigeria and The Gambia in 2009, over 550 Nigerian volunteers have served in the country, including this latest group.
“It is important to mention that Nigeria pays for their passage, resettlement, and a monthly offshore allowance throughout their two-year tour of duty,” Mainasara said.
He appealed to the Gambian government to “sensitize Gambians not to see these volunteers as competitors or job snatchers.”
Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh, The Gambia’s Minister of Health, highlighted the strong relationship between the two countries, describing the deployment as another “historical gesture from the government of Nigeria to The Gambia.” He urged the experts to “be very good ambassadors of Nigeria,” adding that President Adama Barrow is “passionate about the health sector of this country.”
On behalf of his colleagues, team leader Yunusa Baba Ndagi expressed their readiness to do their best and deliver positive results to the government of Nigeria for entrusting them with the assignment.
The Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) program aims to promote human capital development, strengthen institutions, foster international solidarity, and enhance Nigeria’s global standing through its foreign policy initiatives. Volunteers are selected based on their skills and specific requests from recipient countries, providing professional expertise in sectors such as medicine, education, and the judiciary.