The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is set to partner the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE) on environmental protection and sustainability.
The director-general of NASRDA, Dr. Halilu Shaba, made this known when he received a delegation from the professional body led by the Abuja chapter chairperson, Engr. Lynda Bitrus, who paid him a courtesy call at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
He underscored the need for commitment and result oriented synergy especially among relevant stakeholders in the field of engineering, space science and technology, adding the primary goal of the space agency is to proffer solutions to the numerous challenges confronting the society by not necessarily going to space but bringing space to the people.
The NASRDA boss averred that the business of making the country a better place is the collective responsibility of all Nigerians irrespective of our fields of endeavor so as to promote cross fertilization of ideas to serve as a panacea for development of the society.
He said this could only be achieved if all Nigerians came together in unity to make meaningful contributions to the country’s developmental agenda on the platform of a common interest and a shared vision.
While commending the institution for her numerous contributions to engineering practice, Shaba appreciated the members for the warm hand of fellowship extended to NASRDA, even as he assured the agency would contribute its quota in line with its action plan that would guide the collaborative process of both organizations towards achieving a successful partnership.
He said every field of specialization was supposed to be guided by the principles of openness which helps to promote inter-relationship and inter-dependency that is geared towards achieving a common interest, adding the agency has all that is required to work with any organization for the benefit of Nigeria.
Earlier in her remarks, Bitrus congratulated Shaba on his appointment and subsequent confirmation and commended the agency for her various collaborative efforts and stand in promoting robust synergy amongst relevant stakeholders in the field of engineering and space technology. She restated that the institution is a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers established to provide solution to environmental issues relating to technologies, and equipment services.
She explained that part of the institution’s mandate is to collaborate with specialized and professional institutions to develop core competencies and critical mass of scientistd and engineers in satellite subsystem design, application of satellite remote sensing, meteorology and communication, and geographic information system (GIS) amongst others.
She averred that given NASRDA’s enviable track record, the institution wanted a collaborative relationship with NASRDA in areas of environmental protection and sustainability through data provision and research in the application of GIS and remote sensing data for geo-environmental mapping.
Bitrus expressed delight over the agency’s efforts in promoting robotics education and competition to develop school children’s interest in robotics and general sciences, as well as support the capacity building of science teachers in order to empower and enable them teach science in schools.
She appealed to NASRDA to provide a platform for internship for students on industrial attachments and graduates who are willing to learn, as well as participate in NIEE’s lecture series to share knowledge and further bring the activities of the space agency to the fore.
