Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Godson Echigile has stressed he need to strengthen bi-lateral ties between the two countries through the Technical Aid Corps (TAC). The envoy also commended the peaceful conduct of the local government elections last weekend.

Echigile spoke at the weekend during a three day visit to Bo and Kenema. He advised instituitions benefiting from the Nigerian government-sponsored TAC programme to send in requests before end of July 2008.

"Requests sent later than this month will not be considered by the board in Nigeria," he said.

TAC is a programme initiated and sponsored by the Nigerian government to provide technical expertise by sending professionals and lecturers in health, education, law, engineering, banking, science and technology to developing countries in Africa, the Pacific and Asia.

"Currently, about forty Nigerian lecturers are serving in various institutions in Sierra Leone. They include Fourah Bay College (FBC) and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMHAS), in the University of Sierra Leone (USL), Freetown. Others are Eastern Polytechnic Kenema, Haikal Academy, Bo, Harford School for Girls, Moyamba, Catholic Secondary School, Port Loko, Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, Freetown. TAC volunteer lecturers are paid by the Nigerian government."