The director-general of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Halilu Shaba, has said that investment in space science and technology can turn the fortune of Nigerians as well as produce billionaires as the world turns its focus to space economy.
Shaba made this statement in Abuja during the inauguration of the committee on Commodity Traceability and Digital Certification of cross-border trade where he assured the team of NASRDA’s willingness to deploy its special purpose vehicles (SPV) to enable them carry out the assignment and ease trade in Nigeria.
Shaba, who expressed delight with the choice of individuals in the committee, further stated that the space industry is a strategic sector capable of proffering solutions to numerous problems in society. This, according to him, can only be achieved through collaborations with relevant stakeholders and key institutions in society.
He, therefore, commended the effort of the group in fostering a working relationship with the agency in line with the principle of inter-dependency and charged the group to carry out its mandate while considering the market of the Nigerian space industry.
In response, the assistant chief programme analyst, Mr. Lawal Shaka commended the effort of the space agency as a leader in the space industry in Africa.
He called for the total infusion of the discussions into an action plan which will not only be beneficiary to trade investors in Nigeria but beyond as this will guarantee sustainability and expansion of the industry in Nigeria.
In a statement by Helen Adama of the media and corporate communications, NASRDA, Shaba also appealed for periodic interface with the agency to enable the committee tap from the vast wealth of expertise domiciled in the space agency, to open up and adopt new technologies for the team, thereby extending same to other sectors.
