Nigeria, Jamaica Sign Technical Assistance Agreement to Deepen Bilateral Cooperation
Oru Leonard
NEW YORK — September 28, 2026: Nigeria and Jamaica have signed an Agreement on Technical Assistance aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding the impact of Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Programme in Jamaica.
The agreement was signed on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, following a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith.
The signing formed part of a series of bilateral engagements undertaken by Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu on the sidelines of the high-level meeting of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Media Assistant, Dr. Magnus Eze, the two ministers discussed measures to deepen relations between Nigeria and Jamaica and promote greater people-to-people exchanges.
Senator Johnson Smith expressed the Jamaican Government’s appreciation for the contribution of Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps Programme to the country’s development, particularly in health, education and local fabric artisanry.
She also indicated Jamaica’s interest in receiving additional Nigerian professionals, especially nurses and teachers, under the programme in the future.
The Jamaican Foreign Minister noted that the TAC Programme had made a significant impact on communities across Jamaica, extending beyond the transfer of technical skills to promote cultural and creative exchanges between the two countries.
She cited the development of “JADIRE”, a concept combining Jamaican designs with Nigeria’s traditional Adire tie-and-dye textile technique, as an example of the programme’s lasting impact.
The concept was developed by Jamaican artisans following training provided through the Technical Aid Corps Programme in 2018.
Both ministers acknowledged the potential for further expansion of Nigeria-Jamaica relations and agreed to explore additional areas of mutual interest through existing bilateral mechanisms and other cooperation platforms.
The meeting culminated in the formal signing of the Technical Assistance Agreement, reaffirming the commitment of Nigeria and Jamaica to strengthening their longstanding bilateral ties and promoting practical cooperation for mutual benefit.
