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NASRDA Moves To Promote Space Technology In S’East
In its quest to boost creativeness of space technology and its innovations among Nigerian youths, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) through its Southeast Advanced Space Technology Applications Laboratory (SE-ZASTAL) has commenced a turn-round space technology applications promotion among the secondary schools in the region.
The Coordinator, SE-ZASTAL, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Mr. Andrew Onwusulu, made this known while declaring open a training outreach held for 442 students at the main hall, Federal Government College, Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.
According to him, “the space applications promotion outreach was part of activities designed for the secondary students to sharpen their intellectual capability in science and technology innovations”.
Tagged “Capacity building for young minds: Benefits of Space and Technology Applications”, the outreach, he explained, “will forever remain in the minds of the students who participated in the training based on series of lectures and skills benefited”.
The principal of the School, Mr. Frank O.A. Omale, in his opening address thanked the agency’s new DG, Dr Mathew Adepoju, through the SE-ZASTAL Coordinator, Mr. Onwusulu Andrew, who outlined the significance of the training as a means of expanding the knowledge of Space Science to the people at the grassroots.
Mr. Omale urged the students to be serious with their studies, describing it as a great opportunity for FGC, Okposi, to be selected first, on the list of the schools mapped out for such training in the Southeast States.
In his remark, the Principal of the School, Mr Omale Frank, observed that no nation can survive the present struggles without adequate involvement in space technology and its innovations.
He, therefore, charged Science students to rededicate their time to deep reading and aligning with current trends in technology, which he said remain very pivotal to national development.
Other instructors which included Engr. Chinedu Akarugwo, focused on the topic, “Basic Space Science and Technology of SE-ZASTAL”, and Miss Precious Ugwu with the “Space Careers”, as well as Engr. Agu John-Paul Okechukwu, who taught on, “Understanding our environment thorough earth observation”, all highlighted the impacts of Space Science researches and innovations in the environment.
During the training session, the students also had opportunities to access the SE-ZASTAL’s facilities to test, and were also exposed to the activities of NASDRA in other States, such as The National Centre for Remote Sensing, Jos, Centre for Basic Space Science, Nsukka, Enugu State; Centre for Atmospheric Research, Anyigba, Kogi State, Ile-Ife, Lagos.
Some of the students who shared their experiences after the lecture, including an SSS2 student, Okorie Ifeanyichukwu Timothy, described the training as “well-organised”, noting that it would stimulate students’ interest in the technical aspects of promotion and its applications.
Another student, Ogbonna Confidence A., urged the government to support teachers and researchers in the agency, expressing her willingness to take her time to visit the Agency’s headquarters and other NASRDA offices during holidays.
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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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