Developing Space Science And Technology In Nigeria

Being the concluding part of the article published on 16/11/2011

Apparently pleased with the nation’s outing into space, President Goodluck Jonathan described the launch of the satellites as “a technological advancement and movement towards development for Nigeria”.

He said it was a noble achievement and great attestation to the success story of the country’s space programme.

Jonathan, however, urged experts to utilise the opportunities of the progress maximally, so as to boost the nation’s development.

The Director of the National Centre for Remote Sensing (NCRS), Mr. Gajere Nduke, also described the successful launch of the satellites as a blessing to Nigeria and Africa.

“Being the first satellite in Africa with that kind of high resolution, I am sure the West African sub-region and Africa will be able to use it for development,’’ Nduke said.

The Director-General, National Office for Technology Promotion and Acquisition (NOTAP), Dr Umar Bindir, commended Federal Government for its investment in the satellite technology, while applauding Nigerian engineers who designed and constructed NigeriaSat-X.

Bindir said that Nigeria has shown the world that acquiring technology and using it for development was not the exclusive preserve of the developed countries.

In a reflective mood, however, the NARSDA’s Director of Policy, Planning and Research Department, Mrs. Augusta Ihenacho, said that the joy of the agency was not just the successful launch of the two satellites but that NigeriaSat-X was solely built by Nigerian engineers.

“This is an indication that Nigerian engineers have the capability to design and build satellites locally if we have the required fund and infrastructure.’’

She said that it was imperative for the Design Centre and Assembly Integration and Testing Centre (DC/AITC) of NARSDA to be in place in Abuja, to enable the right infrastructure for further progress.

Dr. Spencer Onuh, the Director of CSTD, said the establishment of a DC/AITC was very critical to the nation’s indigenisation programme to build satellites and other related high-technology projects in line with the 25-year road map of space mission in Nigeria.

“Nigeria has spent huge amount of money in training and developing human resources in the area of space science and technology and without a functional DC/AITC, these trained engineers will suffer from intellectual and technical malnutrition, stagnation and atrophy.’’

He advised the Federal Government to make space development a national priority given the huge capital outlay required to indigenise satellite communication.

“Therefore, government should encourage significant research activities in space-related and satellite issues by creating a space endowment fund for research.

“We can learn from Japan in their drive for indigenisation. Technology policy has been at the centre of Japan’s development efforts since the late 19th century.

“The space programs should not be seen as a white elephant project but should be seen as crucial for national defense, revenue generation and economic development,” Onuh said.

Dean of Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, Prof. Aniedi Ette, said there was need for government to invest in the cutting-edge technology of the times, saying that the nation stood to gain tremendously from applications of satellites.

Ette said that the development of satellite technology would have direct impact on the success of Vision 20:2020.

“If satellite technology development could be given proper attention, the country would one day be like nations already reaping bountifully from the technology.

“We have young and talented brains that are itching for development and deployment in satellite technology.

“These abundant materials and human resources should be pooled together and harnessed towards developing a national capacity for satellite technology’’, Ette said.

Bindir, also urged government and its partners to sustain the development of space technology, in order to accelerate the development of the country.

“Certainly, space technology is expensive, but it is the way out; it needs our continuous presence and investment. It will be unfortunate, if we demonstrate any weakness either now or in the future.’’

He also urged government to ensure that the right policy and funds were provided for the sector in order for it to realise its transformation agenda.

To Prof. Samuel Ibiyemi, the former Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Ilorin, the development of space technology is critical to Nigeria, as the country prepared to join the league of industrialised nations of the world.

Ibiyemi said every country that wanted to be part of the industrialised league must not pay lip service to space technology.

“The Federal Government is trying but more is still required for the development of space science and technology in the country.

“The government can appeal to the World Bank’s Science and Technology Education Project Management to make funds available for researches into the manufacturing of micro satellites, so that we can start from there,’’ Ibiyemi said.

Some observers say that in order to complement government’s efforts, the curricula of Nigerian universities must be upgraded to offer space-related courses, while NARSDA should collaborate with these institutions.

Ibiyemi specifically urged NARSDA to collaborate with National University Commission (NUC), to develop viable curricula for tertiary institutions in the country, geared towards the design and manufacturing of satellites as obtained in many advanced countries.

“If we don’t do that, nobody will do it for us and if we start doing it by ourselves, it will give us the development that we really want,’’ Ibiyemi said.

Ette also advised educational institutions in the country to create programmes that would stimulate the interest of students in the study of science and engineering.

To Onuh, educational institutions should aggressively open up department of aeronautics to train engineers and scientists for space technology.

Towards bridging the gap between the space service providers and the end users, Nana urged space agencies to develop a process of knowledge transfer to the end users of SST applications.

“The emergency management arm of the Nigerian Space Agency should partner with national security agencies for provision of timely, accurate, easily accessible information capable of being shared across federal, state and local levels to enhance national security.”

Akinyede on his part said that the time had come for Nigeria to embrace the benefits of space science and technology for development, especially in the areas of education, natural resources, environment and disaster management.

No doubt, Nigeria’s modest efforts at breaking into the orbit of space science and technology are quite laudable but because of its capital intensiveness, the Federal Government must spare no efforts to sustain the present tempo of development, to keep the nation abreast with trends in the developed world.

Olonijutia writes for NAN

Emmanuel Oloniruha