The Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Halilu Shaba, has reiterated that NASRDA stands out as the only Space Agency in Africa with a comprehensive space programme that covers all aspects of Space science and Technology.
This assertion was made during a visit by a delegation from the European Union to the NASRDA headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Shaba highlighted that NASRDA is unparalleled in Africa due to its full-fledged operational capabilities across all facets of space technology, unlike its counterparts in other African nations, which specialize in some parts of space science and technology.
He conveyed NASRDA’s gratitude while acknowledging the European Union’s past assistance, including support for initiatives such as the Copernicus International Data Hub and sponsorship of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) in Africa.
The Director General commended the European Union for its proactive approach to identifying and addressing challenges with solutions that benefit not only policymakers but also ordinary citizens.
The NASRDA boss underscored the agency’s readiness to leverage space science and technology as a catalyst for development and expressed eagerness to collaborate with the European Union for mutual benefit.
In response, Mr. Massimo De Luca, the head of the European Union delegation, expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality accorded them, stating that the EU aims to mainstream space technology into vital sectors such as education, digital innovation conflict resolution, and climate change mitigation, among other sectors.
He said the EU is fortunate to have NASRDA as an agency that has shown remarkable capabilities in operating Earth’s Observation Satellite with capabilities that are crucial for current and future cooperative activities.
Mr. Luca added that both parties will be partnering on innovative projects such as the Smart Agriculture Initiative and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Monitoring projects.
He stated that the current situation of the country is calling for innovation as old ways are proving futile, giving rise to the need for meaningful collaboration such as this.
Earlier, while making a presentation, the Director, Strategic Space Applications, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, gave an overview of the NASRDA’s journey and capabilities from inception until date.
He acknowledged that the EU has positively impacted the agency, especially the department of Strategic Space Applications.
Adepoju however, stated that collaboration between both parties, automatically creates a platform for National development and promised the Agency’s commitment to the partnership. Below are some sights from the event.
Ninma Yacim, Media and Corporate Communications.
