As part of its efforts to promote digital economy, the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd has trained 600 youths across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria on VSAT Installation Core Skills.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, launched the National Policy of VSAT Installation Core Skills for Nigerians in Abuja on March 22, 2021
Speaking during the training that held in Gombe, Abia, Kano, Ekiti, Kebbi, Lagos and Bauchi states, the NIGCOMSAT managing director, Dr Abimbola Alale, said the training gave participants a base knowledge of satellite communications whilst blending theoretical knowledge with practical demonstrations on how to install VSAT and TVRO antennas to communicate with NIGCOMSAT-1R satellite, Sub Saharan Africa’s 1st geostationary satellite.
She maintained the company under the leadership of the minister of communications and digital economy had remained a driver in promoting digital skills with the aim of boosting the Nigerian economy.
At an interview session, the NIGCOMSAT general manager, Mr Adamu Idris, tasked journalists on factual reportage and criticized what he called calculated attempts by a segment of the media at downplaying achievements of the agency under Alele’s leadership.
“For the purpose of putting the records straight, it is important to state again that NIGCOMSAT-1 was launched in May 2007 by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). NIGCOMSAT-1 was China’s first commercial in-orbit delivery telecommunications satellite.
“A 200 million USD loan was used to build its predecessor NIGCOMSAT 1, taken by the Federal Ministry of Finance in 2006. Up to this date, no other loan has been or is being procured by the present administration on behalf of NIGCOMSAT Ltd.
“On November 11, 2008, NIGCOMSAT-1 failed in orbit due to solar array anomaly. On March 24, 2009, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, NIGCOMSAT Ltd. and CGWIC signed the NIGCOMSAT-1R (replacement) satellite in-orbit delivery contract. NIGCOMSAT-1R was launched in 2011, paid for by insurance proceeds from NIGCOMSAT-1 and CGWIC and at no cost to the government of Nigeria.
“NIGCOMSAT-1R has been classified as a critical national infrastructure since 2017, hence insurance is being dealt with by the Federal Ministry of Finance directly. However, prior to 2017, the management of NIGCOMSAT Ltd paid and settled all insurance payments and the company does not have any measure of financial indebtedness or fraud as propounded by the writer’s imagination. “While NIGCOMSAT Ltd doors are widely open to media engagement and partnership, we take exception to unbalanced stories full of lies meant to denigrate and impugn on the personality of principal officers of NIGCOMSAT Ltd,” he added.
