Nigeria is set to send its first citizen to space.
The federal government, through the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Space Exploration and Research Agency in this regard.
Director-general of NASRDA, Dr Mathew Adepoju disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
“This collaboration, which is coming to the country, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of Space Exploration journey and opens new opportunities for scientific research and technological advancement.”
Nigeria has been actively pursuing space exploration since 1999, when it established NASRDA, and has since launched several satellites into orbit, the most recent being the NigeriaSat-X in 2011.
Adepoju noted the potential of this endeavour to foster technological progress and ignite interest in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among Nigerian youth.
He further reaffirmed NASRDA’s commitment to leveraging space technology for national development and enhancing global competitiveness.
The director-general assured that the project would adhere to stringent safety standards and would be executed with professionalism, drawing on international expertise and best practices.
