Nigerian government urges Space Agency To Address Nation’s Challenges

Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has urged the National Space Research and Development Agency to intensify research efforts that will address Nigeria’s peculiar challenges.

He made the appeal at the sixteenth Annual Space National Dialogue of the agency held in Abuja on Monday.

The Minister said that the agency should apply space science and technology in addressing Nigeria’s security and economic challenges.

He also appealed to the agency to make researches that would solve Nigeria’s peculiar challenges a priority.

The guest lecturer, Professor Ibidapo-Obe, said that space science could help solve security challenges, including rescuing the abducted Chibok school girls.

The Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Professor Seidu Mohammed, said it was time to review how it has fared since its inception.

The Agency was established in 1999 to pursue the development and application of space science and technology for economic benefits. 

The National Space Center had in 2003 launched the first satellite, the Nigeria Sat-1 into space.
 Four years later, another satellite; the NigComSat-1 was also launched.

NAHIMAT ADEKOGA