Nigeria To Harness Space Technology In Key Sectors
The Federal Government says it is set to leverage on space technology to attain space capabilities in education, engineering, geoinformation, rocketry among other fields.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita at the Annual Space Dialogue and 4th Anniversary Celebration of NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X in Abuja said it has become necessary for Nigeria to embrace space technology and increase the pace to enhance sustainable socio-economic development.
Oyo-Ita also noted how Technology and Industry have been proved globally as sources of wealth creation and employment, citing space-activated transformation developing countries like India and Brazil.
"The Health and Education Systems of Nigeria can and are being improved by space technologies; Nigeria is on the verge of developing her tele-medicine and tele-education programmes with space technology, while also contributing to our national security and ICT."She said.
She restated government's resolve to tap on the spin-offs of the advances in space technology to boost revenue generation, sustainable management of resources and employment creation.
Also Speaking, the Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA) Prof. S.O. Mohammed disclosed that currently NigeriaSat-X imageries being used by more than 18 universities, 6 MDAs and over 100 academic researchers in Nigeria and across the globe provides relevant satellite datasets for monitoring/mapping and supporting the military with valuable satellite data set.
In his words " NigeriaSat-2 provides high-resolution imagery in a swath width of 20km, carrying a disaster monitoring constellation continuity payload that provides platforms for the African Resources Monitoring Constellation. NigeriaSat-2 data is a key source of information for a wide range of applications related to urban areas"
Earlier, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication Technology called on all relevant stakeholders to support improvement of various broadband infrastructures including satellite broadband.
Nigeria Since 1999 has launched five satellities including NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat-2, NigeriaSat-X, NigComSat-1 and NigComSa-1R.