Onu: Nigeria to Develop Indigenous Satellite By 2030

The Director, Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), Dr. Spencer Onu, has assured stakeholders that Nigeria will develop an indigenous space shuttle satellite by 2030.

According to him the components needed for the development of the satellite are presently being developed, adding that scientists and engineers at the Centre have capacity to launch made in Nigeria satellite from Nigeria in 2030.

The Director who made the disclosure in Abuja weekend at the CSTD week said the incoming administration should exploit the opportunities in space science to advance its economic well-being through job creation. He averred that there has been missing link in the exploration of space technology in the country.

He said: “The CSTD week since it began four years ago has been addressing some specific issues. This year we have addressing the missing link in application of space technology. Space technology still has some missing links in this country.”

A key missing link, Onu explained is the lack of space education in the country’s academic curricula.

“Only Nigerian university has aerospace engineering, their programme has been approved by the Council but they have not started. Kogi State Polytechnic also had its own approved, but the department is yet to take off. So this is the missing link”, he said. He however added that the Centre is doing its best to bridge the gap.

Onu advised the new administration to look into the Assembly Integration and Testing centre (AIT) as their priority in the space sector development. The establishment of AIT, he added, will create huge employment.

The Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Mohammed Sheidu, also expressed happiness that the CSTD scientists have been fully involved in the design and manufacture of all of its satellites.