In line with his vision to elevate Nigeria’s Space sector and develop more ingenious systems for its applications, the Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, has said Disruptive Skills Acquisition Hubs and Laboratories will be established in Geo-political zones across the country with Abuja hosting the North Central hub.
He made this known during the opening ceremony of a 5-day Face to Face training on “Agricultural Monitoring from Space”, held at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The Director General explained that the training, which drew participants from Institutions of learning, Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Nigeria and Africa, is part of NASRDA’s ongoing efforts to empower professionals with Skills and tools to strategically leverage on Space Technology for enhancing agricultural monitoring and systems.
He added that the success feature of his administration remains skill acquisition, adding that NASRDA will not go the traditional way but the disruptive skills acquisition way which has remained the cornerstone of his administration since his assumption of office.
Dr. Adepoju described the training as not only timely but also critical for enhancing the capacity of stakeholders in the Agriculture value chain, especially through Space-based solutions.
The NASRDA Boss while highlighting the importance of strategic collaboration, called on participants to be engaging and make the best of the training model to foster a stronger and better partnership.
He lauded the training model for its interactive and engaging approach, which will foster stronger ties with international partners and provide a platform for discussions on mutually beneficial initiatives.
Dr. Adepoju expressed optimism that the training would be the first to lay the foundation for more robust engagements in the future.
Speaking earlier, the representative of Earth Observation (EO) Africa from VITO Remote Sensing in Belgium, Dr. Jerome Degerick, expressed his excitement to be part of the training and to serve as a facilitator for the workshop powered by EO Africa.
He commended NASRDA for hosting such a vital initiative and emphasized the importance of EO in driving innovation, particularly in Agricultural monitoring and Data Management.
Dr. Degerick, further added that the course would not only deepen participants’ understanding of Space based Agricultural techniques, but also increase collaboration opportunities between EO institutions across Africa and Europe.
He said, the workshop would spark insightful discussions and foster effective knowledge transfer, paving the way for future engagements in EO development.
In his remarks, the representative of ITC, University of Twente in the Netherlands, Dr. Venus Valentign expressed appreciation to NASRDA for the warm reception accorded him and his team.
He highlighted the importance of international collaboration in advancing Agricultural Monitoring through Satellite Data and Remote Sensing tools.
Dr. Valentign stated that the training would present a valuable opportunity to explore new methods of Observing Agricultural Data and applying Space
Science and find new ways to bring EO data to non-space sector.
He added that the workshop would open doors for commercialization possibilities and enable Innovative solutions to improve economic growth.
Also speaking at the event, the Director, Strategic Space Applications (SSA), NASRDA Dr. Godstime James, appreciated the Director General for his leadership and encouraging initiatives that promote innovation and capacity building.
He described the training as a platform for both learning and networking, which is vital for knowledge exchange and building professional connections.
Dr. James further emphasized the importance of applying Space technology to agriculture, stating that Disruptive ideas often lead to better outcomes.
He explained that the course is focused on improving the monitoring of farms through Space based technologies, which is key to achieving Agricultural efficiency and sustainability in Nigeria and beyond.
Below are pictures from the event
Priscilla Harry
Media and Cooperate Communications
