Reverse Linkage

62 REVERSE LINKAGE degree-awarding programme in dental surgery at the School of Medicine in 2000 – more than three decades after the establishment of the University of Zambia. Furthermore, in the Gambia, a TAC volunteer was the pioneer vice-chancellor of the only university in that country, to be succeeded by another TAC volunteer. The first registrar of the university, was a TAC volunteer. Nigerian volunteers headed many departments of the university while a TAC medical team at Sulayman Junkun General Hospital performed the first surgical operation there. A Nigerian TAC volunteer designed a curriculum in tourism for the Milton Margai College of Education in Sierra Leone, and for the course of study in insurance at the Freetown Technical Institute. In Jamaica, a TAC Volunteer drew up a national land surveying plan that was the first of its kind. The same success story applies in Fiji and Seychelles. A Nigerian volunteer also developed banking software for Namibia. Commitment to the Islamic Development Bank’s Reverse Linkage initiative Nigeria’s TAC scheme was conceived as a Reverse Linkage idea by the Nigerian government because of its main thrust toward sustainable development. Once volunteers are deployed to recipient countries, they are expected to carry out their task in the form of train-the-trainer mentorship, enabling local people to take full charge of affairs after the volunteers have departed. The collaboration between DTAC and IsDB is therefore a welcome initiative. For instance, the two organizations are deciding on the most efficient treatment of obstetrics fistula, evident inThe Gambia, Sierra Leone and Somalia. It is hoped that the adoption of the 2017–2020 roadmap for coopera- tion among the Technical Cooperation Agencies of IsDB member countries will provide more partnership opportu- nities between the two organizations for the benefit of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member coun- tries as well as enhancing South-South Cooperation. Conclusion The programme has exposed Nigerian ex-volunteers to inter- national best practice and knowledge through the sharing of skills, expertise and advanced technology. Ex-volunteers have always returned home with new or improved skills and exposures, which they have put into service in Nigeria. This makes them better equipped to face the new challenges of national development at home. Nigeria’s DTAC is ready to partner with the South-South countries as well as the IsDB-OIC member countries in the various areas of practice. TAC staff with students of science and English at David Sheehama Secondary School, Outapi Circuit, Omusati Education Region, Namibia TAC volunteers deployed to Jamaica to teach art, adire and batik making Image: DTAC Images: DTAC Images: DTAC