Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says it is a thing of national pride and joy that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has become a major stakeholder in space science thus making Nigeria the epicentre of Space Science and Technology (SST) in Africa.
Dr Onu who spoke in Abuja when he received the Chief of Defence Space Administration (CDSA), Rear Admiral Nnamdi Muogilim in his office said special attention should be given to SST education in order to speedily transform the nation’s economy into a strong, sustainable and viable one that can compete favourably with others in the world.
Congratulating the new CDSA on “his well-deserved appointment,” the Minister stated that Nigeria’s economy has been dependent on commodities but gradually transforming into a high tech compliant economy with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Dr Onu noted that Nigeria needs to learn from countries like China and India which has harnessed advanced technologies such as space technology to enhance their economy, adding that China has been able to accomplish a lot in terms of science and technology and now has the 2nd largest economy in the world.
India, he said, “used to be among the poorest countries but today the story is different all because of science, technology and innovation. Coming home, he noted that the technological contributions of the Defence Space Administration is key to national development and security in Nigeria.
He then assured CDSA of his support and cooperation, lauded the military for their dedication, patriotism, perseverance and sacrifice made for the peace and stability of the nation.
In his response, the Chief of Defence Space Administration, Rear Admiral Muogilim, reiterated the importance of Cyber and Space Revolution to national security and development as it would support government policies and contribute to agricultural productivity, transportation efficiency and environmental monitoring.
Muogilim also informed Dr Onu of Defence Space Administration’s collaboration with other stakeholders in the space industry such as the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigCommSat) which has been yielding positive results for all the parties.