The government of Nigeria through the Head of State Bola Tinubu has issued the greenlight to launch four new satellites. Director General of the Natio
The government of Nigeria through the Head of State Bola Tinubu has issued the greenlight to launch four new satellites. Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, announced the initiative at the 8th annual Brigadier General Michael Agu (Rtd) distinguished lecture and awards ceremony, themed “Nigeria’s 21 Years in Space: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects.”
The four new satellites will include three with optical payloads and one Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, replacing Nigeria’s current radar satellite to sustain its contributions to global space development and improve technological infrastructure.
Embracing space initiative
Dr. Adepoju emphasized that the new satellite launch is critical, as several existing Nigerian satellites have deorbited or are nearing mission end, underscoring the need for continuous renewal to maintain Nigeria’s position in global space initiatives. He outlined three main pillars of his leadership—transformation, capacity building, and fostering private sector collaboration—to accelerate NASRDA’s global competitiveness. He also stressed that significant private sector involvement is essential to effectively drive Nigeria’s National Space Programme, noting ongoing collaborations with China and Russia.
The ceremony also featured remarks by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who highlighted the need for consistent policy execution to reach Nigeria’s space goals, and engineering leaders like Margaret Oguntola and Dr. Umar Abdullahi, who praised the resilience of Nigerian engineers despite sectoral challenges, including limited satellite lifespan, funding, and policy consistency. Professor Rabiu Babatunde, NASRDA’s Research Director, suggested solutions to these challenges, such as developing satellite constellations, revising strategic roadmaps, increasing international partnerships, and supporting a transition to a public-private partnership model.
The event also honored distinguished Nigerians, with former President Obasanjo receiving the Grand Commander of Nigerian Space Exploration award in recognition of his foundational contributions to Nigeria’s space program.