The Director General and Chief Executive of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Prof. Matthew Adepoju, has said Nigeria is well positioned to play a stronger role in advancing Africa’s participation in Global Earth Observation activities, stressing the need for greater collaboration among institutions across the continent.
He said this while receiving representatives of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) on a courtesy visit at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, there was need for relevant Nigerian institutions to work closely and take advantage of platforms such as GEO and AfriGEO to showcase the country’s capabilities and share solutions to common developmental challenges.
Prof. Adepoju explained that space technology should continue to be presented not only as an area of scientific advancement, but as a practical tool for addressing issues affecting the lives of people, particularly in areas such as climate change, agriculture, water resources, environmental monitoring and food security.
He expressed NASRDA’s readiness to deepen collaboration with GEO, AfriGEO and other relevant partners, while encouraging stronger coordination among government agencies, research institutions, private sector and development partners; he he stressed the need to translate Earth observation data and technologies into actionable services.
Speaking earlier, the Chief of Programmes, Group on Earth Observations (GEO), Madeeha Bajwa, applauded the leadership of NASRDA for its strategic direction, noting that the Agency’s growing visibility in Earth observation and space-related activities in Nigeria, particularly through the recently concluded AfriGEO Symposium 2026, reflects the effectiveness of its leadership.
She explained that Nigeria’s active engagement could contribute significantly to strengthening Africa’s representation within GEO, stressing that with its level of commitment and leadership, the Agency could also position itself to host a global event.
Below are pictures from the event:
Reporter: Oluwaseun Ajayi
Editor: Joy Atama-Opaluwa
Photo Credit: Ibrahim Zakari
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