The stakeholders in science sector have advised Nigerian universities to collaborate with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in the quest to indigenise space technology in Nigeria.
The stakeholders made the call in Abuja on Thursday in a communiqué issued by the drafting team after a two-day Satellite Technology Development (CSTD) Annual Space Conference.
The stakeholders recommended that Nigerian universities should embrace partnerships with NASRDA to have access to deep knowledge of space technology.
The communiqué noted that such partnership would improve the process of indigenising space technology in the country.
The stakeholders emphasised on the need to establish a solar farm to satisfy energy needs of the space industry through a robust solar power generation and utilisation initiative.
They called on Federal Government to intervene in the National Space Programme for provision and support of the capital intensive space infrastructure required for space technology development in Nigeria.
According to them, policy and legislation on space assets and utilisation should be strengthened; while stakeholders’ participation should be pursued and presented to the National Assembly and monitored by National Planning Commission.
The communiqué said in part that a suitable Science and Technology Innovation (STI) strategy for Nigeria would require an affirmative action on the need for optimisation of space infrastructure and integration of related technologies.
It stressed the need for maintenance and renewal agreement for all developed, acquired and installed hardware and software or launched space infrastructure.
The document suggested development of space and ground-based augmentation systems in Nigeria for positioning, navigation, environmental monitoring, weather/meteorology, scientific research missions.
It also called for the coverage of areas such as communication, health delivery, e-education, e-government, security, emergency management, aviation, early warning disaster management and agriculture.
The statement said that future of space technology that would deliver comprehensive socioeconomic gains in Nigeria relied on the efficient funding integration.
It added that all space stakeholders ought to collaborate to achieve common goal.
CSTD is a centre under NASRDA with responsibility to create awareness and educate public and other sectors on how satellite building will benefit and boost rapid improvement in other sectors.
The CSTD week is one of the vehicles to pilot awareness campaign programme for effective result.
The theme for CSTD conference 2017 is “Integration of Space Technology in Nigeria: Spectrum of opportunity“.
(Source: NAN)