The Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, has reiterated the Agency’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a major force in Africa’s space technology landscape in the nearest future.
He made this statement while welcoming delegates from Mitsubishi Corporations, Mizuho and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD at NASRDA headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Adepoju pointed that collaborations anchored on innovation, strategic planning, and aggressive pursuit of world-class space capabilities will play a decisive role in accelerating Nigeria’s growth in the global space ecosystem.
While highlighting the Agency’s resolve in building capacity, the NASRDA boss expressed keen interest in Mitsubishi’s approach to technical knowledge sharing, emphasizing that technology transfer remains central to the proposed collaboration.
Dr. Adepoju also noted that Nigeria is ready to become a hub for manufacturing technological equipment to drive sustainable growth, adding that partnership with Mitsubishi will enable the establishment of a company in Nigeria, which will pave way for technology transfer, job creation, and a leap in the nation’s industrial development.
The NASRDA boss further appreciated Mitsubishi Corporations’ support for NASRDA’s mission, and hoped that the visit would unlock opportunities for growth and advancement.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Hiroaki Ichihashi, stated that the reason for their visit is to seek areas of collaboration with NASRDA and explore new avenues of mutual interest in space launch vehicles.
He added that the visit aims to explore partnerships that will bring technology transfer and strengthen Nigeria’s space capabilities.
Mr. Ichihashi explained that their products and services span Aerospace and Automotive components, air-conditioners, elevators, forklifts, hydraulic equipment, printing machines, missiles, power-generation systems, ships, and space launch vehicles such as the H‑IIA and H‑IIB rockets.
Below are pictures from the visit
Written by: Chidimma Ayogu
Editor: Kaneng Dagyeng
Media and Corporate Communications
