World Space Week 2001 Report

To mark the 2001 World Space Week in Nigeria, NASRDA being the focal point for Space Science and Technology activities in the country organized a 2-day Lecture/Symposium from the 4^th- 5^th October, 2001 at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Headquarters Auditorium. The occasion, which was very successful, attracted over 150 participants drawn from government establishments, the private sector, the academia, the military and some International Space Organizations.

THE OPENING CEREMONY

The Honourable Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Turner T. Isoun declared the World Space Week open. In his address, the Hon. Minister reiterated the purpose of the World Space Week and took note of the various areas to be addressed at the symposium. He also reaffirmed the Federal Government's unequivocal and strong commitment to the development and application of Space Science and Technology as a veritable tool for our national development, which included inter-alia:Approval of the National Space Policy and Programmes; Commencement of the NASRDA/FMST/(Nigeria)-SSTL Space Science and Technology collaboration in satellite programme for the Development and Launching of a low Earth Orbit Observation micro-satellite andApproval for the trainee engineers expected to participate in the technology-know-how- transfer training under the programme to commence their training. Continuing, the Honourable Minister stressed the need for a concerted effort by all stakeholders to ensure a break through for the country using this technology both economically and socially. The Honourable Minister's address was followed by a lecture titled "Expanding the NASRDA Vision on Earth Station delivered by Mr. Don Branum, the President/CEO of Dallas Telecommunications Inc., Dallas Texas. In his presentation, he gave an overview of the following:Globecomm System Inc. (GBI) and Dallas Telecommunications Inc. (DTI) including capacities and past experience;Earth Station Technology;Earth Station Antenna Technology;Earth Station Based Band Technology; andProposed collaboration between NASRDA and GSI/DTI

THE SYMPOSIUM

The symposium titled "Space Science and Technology Application; Solution for the Socio-Economic Challenges in Nigeria" was chaired by Engr. Ernest Ndukwe the Vice-Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission. The first day of the symposium comprised of presentations from five invited speakers in the following areas:VSAT-Based Rural Telephony, What Prospects for Nigeria-by Prof. G. O. Ajayi;Application of Space Technology in Highway Planning-by Dr. J. A. Akinyede;Nigeria Topography, Perspective from Orbit-by the representatives of Space Imaging and Geo-Information and Land Resources Management in Nigeria-by Dr. O. Ogunsola.The second day featured presentations from the following International Space Organizations:Space Imaging;Europe Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) andDallas Telecommunications Inc.Each of the presentation covered the successes achieved in the upliftment of human conditions through Space Science and related activities.

CONCLUSION

 The World Space Week provided participants with adequate information on the vast areas of application of Space Science and Technology for our national development. The participants commended the quality of the presentations and also appreciated the critical role the application of Space Science and Technology can play in accelerating and realization of our socio-economic development objectives particularly, the solution to the problem of human resources training and development, domestic industrialization, exploitation and rational use of our natural resources sustenance of basic infrastructure and protection of the environment. Of particular interest was the indication by the International Space Organizations of their willingness to collaborate with the Agency in order to ensure that Nigeria benefits maximally from the applications of Space Science and Technology.

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