The Director General and Chief Executive of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, has affirmed the Agency’s commitment to advancing space development in Nigeria and Africa.

He made this known during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASRDA and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), held virtually at NASRDA’s headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, collaborating with other African nations is a critical step towards repositioning the continent to compete effectively with others in the global space community.

Dr. Adepoju, while expressing excitement over the collaboration, noted that the partnership will open new horizons for the continent by fostering innovation, strengthening knowledge exchange, and enhancing Africa’s collective presence in the global space community.

The NASRDA boss assured the team of the Agency’s full support, emphasizing that the content of the MoU will be diligently implemented, thereby translating agreements into concrete actions, to ensure delivery of tangible results in research, technology development, and capacity building for both nations and the African continent at large.

He further emphasized the need to deepen exchange of science data, noting that enhanced knowledge exchange and joint missions will significantly accelerate innovation across the continent.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Dr Humbulani Mudau, explained that the partnership aims to revive and build on previous collaborative efforts between both countries earlier aimed at the development of the African Resource Monitoring Constellation.

Dr Mudau said that the renewed cooperation will play a key role in developing a programme that can provide an African Strategy for leadership within the continent, adding that both countries can collaborate on building satellites providing indigenous strategy and leadership for the African Space Agency.

The high point of the event was the signing of MoU documents by both parties.

Below are pictures from the event.

Written by: Daniel Chinedu
Editor: Kaneng Dagyeng
Media and corporate communications