Globally Oriented Citizenship and International Voluntary Service DISCUSSION PAPER 71 GLOBALLY ORIENTED CITIZENSHIP AND INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTARY SERVICE Interrogating Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps Scheme WALE ADEBANWI NORDISKA AFRIKAINSTITUTET, UPPSALA 2011 Indexing terms: Nigeria Development aid Technical cooperation Voluntary services South south relations Volunteers Nationalism Citizenship Surveys The opinions expressed in this volume are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. Language checking: Peter Colenbrander ISSN 1104-8417 ISBN 978-91-7106-713-5 © The author and Nordiska Afrikainstitutet 2011 Production: Byrå4 Print on demand, Lightning Source UK Ltd. Globally Oriented Citizenship and International Voluntary Service Contents GLOSSARY ...........................................................................................................................................................5 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................7 Foreword .............................................................................................................................................................9 Abstract..............................................................................................................................................................10 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................11 The Paradoxes of IVS and Civic Nationalism: Arguments for Globally Oriented Citizenship .....................................................................................................................................16 TAC and IVS ...................................................................................................................................................... 20 Technical Aid Corps: From the US Peace Corps to TAC .................................................................... 22 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Growth of TAC ..........................................................................................................................................26 Stages of the Service Program ............................................................................................................27 Selection Process and Orientation Programme ...........................................................................27 ‘Patriotic Journey’: Technical Aid Corps in The Gambia ............................................................ 30 Return and Debriefing ............................................................................................................................32 Problems and Projections .....................................................................................................................32 Method of Research ......................................................................................................................................37 Approach to the Study ...........................................................................................................................37 Data Sources and Data Analysis .........................................................................................................37 Findings ............................................................................................................................................................ 40 TAC: Significance of International Civic Service ........................................................................... 40 TAC: Motivation for International Civic Service .............................................................................47 Service and Human Solidarity .................................................................................................................. 50 Effects of Service ......................................................................................................................................51 Service Scheme: Creation and Objectives.......................................................................................53 Service Impact, Efficacy and Continuation .....................................................................................57 Improvement of Service Scheme .......................................................................................................65 Policy Recommendations ............................................................................................................................67 Conclusion: Towards Globally oriented Citizenship ..........................................................................70 References........................................................................................................................................................ 73 Interviews ......................................................................................................................................................... 77 Nigerian newspapers ................................................................................................................................... 77 Gambian newspaper .................................................................................................................................... 77 3 Wale Adebanwi List of tables 1. Survey Index of Departing Volunteers ...........................................................................................38 2. Survey Index of Serving Volunteers in The Gambia ..................................................................39 3. Survey Index of Ex-Volunteers in Nigeria ......................................................................................39 4. General Significance of TAC ................................................................................................................41 5. Significance of TAC for The Gambia ................................................................................................43 6. Motivation for Volunteering ...............................................................................................................48 7. Service and Cross National Human Solidarity .............................................................................50 8. Service and Civic Virtues: Do you think TAC will (has) enhance(d) civic virtues in you? .........................................................................................................................................51 9. Establishment of Service Scheme: Should Nigeria have started the scheme at all? .....53 10. Service Objectives: Do you think TAC has achieved its objectives? .....................................54 11. Service Objectives: Has TAC promoted and enhanced Nigeria’s image and interests in The Gambia? .....................................................................................................................55 12. Service Efficacy: Has TAC been very useful for The Gambia? .................................................57 13. Impact of Service Scheme: What is the impact of TAC on the Gambia? ............................58 14. Continuation of the Service Scheme: Do you think TAC should be continued? .............59 15. Continuation of Service Scheme: Do you think TAC should be continued in The Gambia? ............................................................................................................................................60 16. Continuation of Service Scheme: Why TAC Scheme should continue in The Gambia ..............................................................................................................................................61 17. Continuation of Service Scheme: Why TAC should be discontinued in The Gambia ....61 18. Continuation of Service Scheme: Why TAC should continue .................................................62 19. Continuation of Service Scheme: Why TAC should be discontinued ..................................62 20. Negative Effects of Service .................................................................................................................63 21. What should be the focus of change or improvement in TAC? .............................................67 22. What should be the focus of change or improvement in TAC in The Gambia? ...............67 List of charts 1. General Significance of TAC ................................................................................................................41 2. Significance of TAC for The Gambia ................................................................................................43 3. Motivation for Volunteering ...............................................................................................................48 4. Service and Human Solidarity: Does TAC promote human solidarity and understanding? .......................................................................................................................................51 5. Service and Civic Virtues: Has TAC enhanced civic virtues in you? ......................................52 6. Establishment of TAC: Should Nigeria have established TAC at all? ....................................54 7. Service Objectives: Do you think TAC has achieved its objectives?