Nigeria will be through with the testing ground for home made satellite by 2015. The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama made this promise in Abuja during a familiarization tour to the National Air Space and Research Development Agency, NASRDA and National Biotechnology Development Agency, NABDA.
The minister said the proposed construction of Assembling, Integration, Testing and Design Centre, AITDC, is inevitable if Nigeria must actualize the first Made in Nigeria satellite in 2018.
He said that for Nigerian engineers at the Space centre to manufacture locally, there is need for the establishment of the centre to discourage the country from depending on foreign satellites and technologies.
He emphasized the need for the readiness of the AITDC so as to give Nigerian engineers ample time to assemble the first made in Nigerian satellite by 2018.
Bulama who expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the agency, charged the management to pursue the Assembling, Integration, Testing and Design Centre, AIT project with more vigour to actualize the dream by 2015.
The actualization of this project would not only facilitate the launching of the first made in Nigerian satellite by 2018 but will bolster the nation’s economic fortunes.
“This project is so dear to us; you must put in all zeal and seriousness towards making it a reality by 2015. The establishment of the AITDC will not only fast-track the process of actualizing the dream of first made in Nigeria satellite by 2018 but will boost the economic development of the economy. Whatever it will take should not matter but let it be ready by 2015,” he charged the DG of NASRDA.
Bulama, who extolled the strides of Nigerian engineers at the agency, said with the establishment of the AITDC, Nigeria will be better placed to compete globally in space technology.
Similarly, the Minister also at the National Biotechnology and Development Agency, NABDA praised the management of the agency for taking some scientific actions to combat the dreaded Ebola Virus disease in the country.
He said the collaborations of NABDA with international bodies and its research efforts during the height of the EVD epidemics in the country showed how committed and patriotic the agency is to such a national emergency.
Bulama also said science, technology and innovation have proven to be the key components in every developmental plans and strategy of developed nations of the world, urging Nigeria to begin to change the unfavourable perceptions they have against the sector to move the economy forward.
“We must change the negative perception we have about ST&I to develop our nation and be able to lay a good foundation for the future generation. More funding is needed; more structures and equipments need to be put in place to encourage our scientists.
Though, we have made some efforts, but we need to do more to get where we want to be. For me, ST&I remain the key to unlock our economic potentials and we can’t do without it” he added.
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