As Nigeria continues to battle the wave of insecurity in the country, the Nigerian Military has revealed it is turning to digital security to tackle Nigeria’s wave of security challenges.
The commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Oladele Bamidele Daji, made this known while delivering his keynote address at the 2021 Annual Space Dialogue and National Media Conference on Space Science Technology and Innovation, themed “Effective Utilisation, Promotion and Reporting of Science Technology and Innovation in Post-COVID-19 Era”, convened by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) yesterday in Abuja.
Although he highlighted the numerous opportunities presented by space technology, he said the COVID-19 era disrupted the development of the booming sector.
“Addressing disruptions caused by the pandemic and the return to a better, new normal requires that innovations, particularly digital technology, are perceived as a pre-requisite for Nigeria to address its main developmental challenges such as poverty, limited access to health services, food insecurity, climate change and good governance.
“All these are components of human security that are essential for enhancing productivity, competitiveness and economic diversification. We must take advantage of all these in our quest to maximise space science, technology and innovations for the enhancement of human security in the post-COVID-19 era,” he said.
Earlier in his address, the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said the annual dialogue is a clear demonstration of the NASRDA’s commitment towards the actualisation of its goals and objectives, particularly in the exploitation of space technology for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Represented by the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, Onu called for synergy between the NASRDA and the states to enable the sub-regional levels to exploit the technical capacities of the agency’s information and data to improve agriculture, especially now that the nation is transforming into a technology and knowledge-based economy.
In his address, the NASRDA director-general, Dr. Halilu Shaba, said the space agency is committed to deploying capabilities in space science and technology for the development of the country.
“NASRDA remains enduringly committed in her determination to fulfill her mandate, by deploying capacities in Space Science and Technology for the enhancement and realisation of a better life for the ordinary Nigerian.
“NASRDA is saddled with the mandate to pursue the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the nation.
“We are committed and on the right path to our 25-year roadmap as approved by the Federal Executive Council,” he added.
