The Director General and Chief Executive of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, has said that strengthening operations is key to transforming the Agency into a globally competitive force for national development.
He made this known while receiving a delegation from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Directorate General, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, the Agency remains steadfast in strengthening operational efficiency through technical capacity building and fostering advanced research which is a strategic focus vital for positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space ecosystem.
To buttress his point, Dr Adepoju highlighted the Agency’s intellectual expertise as a key driver of this transformation, adding that the Agency’s highly trained workforce and growing technical depth places it in a strong position to deliver impactful results.
The Director General further drew attention to Nigeria’s track record in space exploration, with seven satellites successfully launched into orbit to date,while also revealing that the Agency is now preparing for the deployment of a new generation of satellites designed to meet modern complexities.
He pointed that these upcoming satellites will be equipped with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sophisticated onboard processing capabilities, specifically engineered to enhance disaster management and provide real time data for rapid emergency response.
The DG assured the delegation of the Agency’s commitment and readiness to collaborate with international partners in advancing space technology and its applications for national and continental development.
In his presentation,the Director, Strategic Space Applications, Dr Godstime James gave an overview of NASRDA’s work in disaster management, stating that the Agency operates as Nigeria’s national space research institution with a network of centres across the country to support its mandate. He explained that NASRDA works closely with agencies like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), using satellite data to support effective disaster monitoring and response.
He further stated that the Agency has strong technical capacity and makes use of both national and international satellites such as Sentinel and MODIS systems, used to monitor hazards like floods, droughts and erosion, enabling NASRDA to provide timely early warning information to support disaster risk reduction efforts.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, Mr Luca Rossi, recalled a previous visit in 2023 and described the Agency’s progress since then as remarkable and highly commendable, noting that his earlier engagement had given him useful insight into the Agency’s work and achievements.
While commending the Agency’s expertise, capacity and continued commitment to progress, Mr Rossi explained that the purpose of the current visit is to assess milestones achieved while also learning fromAgency’s experiences so far.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Mansur Matazu, an Expert on Early Warning and Disaster Management Operations at the ECOWAS Disaster Operations Centre, commended the growing collaboration among scientific institutions in the region, noting that Nigeria’s effective response to extreme weather events had gained global recognition.
He said NASRDA’s partnerships and space based monitoring capabilities would strengthen disaster preparedness and early warning systems across West Africa, adding that ongoing discussions were aimed at deepening regional cooperation among relevant agencies.
In his remarks,the Directorate General, European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), Mr Alexandre Castellano commended Nigeria’s progress in the space sector, particularly the advancements in satellite technology and disaster management capabilities.
He further explained that the visitation marks the beginning of a series of continued engagements, and also took the opportunity to invite stakeholders to a regional workshop scheduled for October in Abuja on disaster preparedness and emergency response, supported by the European Union and regional disaster management partners,.
He added that the collaboration represents an important step toward strengthening future partnerships.
Below are pictures from the event:
Reporter: Oluwaseun Ajayi
Editor: Ninma Yacim
Photo credits: Ibrahim Zakari
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