NASRDA Needs More Funding For Efficiency -Minister 

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Dr Adeleke Mamora, says the National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) needs more funding to function effectively.
Mamora disclosed this when he featured in a special interview with The Tide’s Source in Abuja recently.
He said the agency wants to have its space port and launch its home grown satellite, but have limited funds.
“We want to ensure that we launch our own satellite, not that we didn’t have one before. I recall that we had satellite one, which had since been replaced by satellite two few years ago.
“We want to be sure that we launch our own satellite that is home grown and we will have a space port where we can also launch any other thing operating within the realm of the space”, he said.
He explained that efforts were made to get the best in terms of space economy, adding that it will serve as an advantage in knowledge-based economy.
“What I know is that efforts are being put in place to get the best in terms of space economy where we can take advantage of the knowledge-based economy.
“We have people who are endowed and can inject that knowledge into the system in whatever area to make our system better and to assist and hasten our socio-economic development.
“There are so many efforts in that direction with regards to maximising benefits from knowledge of our people regarding getting the benefits of space technology, which is in a variety of ways”, he said.
The Minister noted that NASRDA was working with educational institutions across the country to offer free training to individuals.
According to him,  the Ministry had a business case in place, which was awaiting the approval of the Federal Executive Council to kick off.
“The business was such that a private sector would partner with NASRDA in order to enjoy some benefits that would come with the partnership.
“They are working with our universities and other educational institutions to offer free training to these institutions. We now have a full business case in place, which is now with a view to getting a private sector partner with NASRDA to really get in benefits from all these”, he said.

By: King Onunwor