The Director General and Chief Executive of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, has received the XPLORE Disruptors Impact Award in recognition of his visionary leadership and outstanding contributions to advancing Nigeria’s space programme and driving national development.

The award was presented during a strategic meeting with delegates of Explore Tech at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Receiving the award, Dr. Adepoju stated that NASRDA is open to collaborations that align with the Agency’s mandate and have the potential to drive national development, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in advancing Nigeria’s space and technology initiative.

He added that such partnerships would not only advance Nigeria’s space and technology initiatives, but also create opportunities for youth engagement, skills development, and capacity building, ensuring the next generation is equipped to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s innovation ecosystem.

The NASRDA boss further assured the team that the Agency would actively explore potential areas of collaboration, noting that partnership is already in place and only needs to be strengthened and deepened.

Commending the team behind the Explore 2025 initiative, the Director General described the achievements recorded so far as remarkable, highlighting the dedication, innovation, and hard work demonstrated by everyone involved.

Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Explore Tech, Mr. Ihesiulo Light, emphasized the importance of structured partnerships and global positioning within the space and innovation ecosystem as key drivers for youth development and national growth.

Highlighting skills development as a key priority, Mr Light revealed plans to scale up training programmes aimed at transitioning participants directly from capacity building into market ready opportunities, he therefore called for stronger institutional endorsement and executive level partnerships to enhance programme structure and accelerate delivery outcomes.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the award to the Director General, a recognition that reflects the impact and outstanding achievements of his leadership.

Below are pictures from the event:

Reporter: Ibrahim Zakari
Editor: Joy Opaluwa
Media and corporate communications.