NASRDA moves to promote Space Technology in S’East region

Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

The National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, through its Southeast Advanced Space Technology Applications Laboratory (SE-ZASTAL) has commenced a turn-round space technology applications, promotion among the secondary schools in the region.

The Coordinator, SE-ZASTAL, Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Mr. Andrew Onwusulu made this known while declaring open a training outreach held for 442 students at the main hall, Federal Government College, Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.

Onwusulu said that the purpose of the training Is to boost creativeness of space technology and its innovations among Nigerian youths in the region.

According to him, “the space applications promotion outreach was part of activities designed for secondary students to sharpen their intellectual capability in science and technology innovations” tagged: “Capacity building for young minds: Benefits of Space and Technology Applications” will forever remain in the minds of the students participated in the training base on series of lectures sand skills benefited.”

The principal of the School, Mr. Frank O.A. Omale, in his opening address thanked the agency’s new DG, Dr Mathew Adepoju through the SE-ZASTAL coordinator, Mr. Onwusulu Andrew outlined the significant importance of the training as a means of expanding the knowledge of Space Science to the people at the grassroots.

Mr. Omale urged the students to be serious with their studies, describing it as a great opportunity for FGC, Okposi to be selected first, on the list of the schools mapped out for such training in the Southeast States.

In his remark, the Principal of the School, Mr Omale Frank observed that no nation can survive the present struggles without it’s adequate involvement in space technology and its innovations.

He therefore charged Science students to rededicate their time to deep reading and aligning with current trends in technology which he said remain very pivotal to the national development.

Other instructors who included; Chinedu Akarugwo focused on the Topic: Basic Space Science and Technology’ of SE-ZASTAL and Miss Precious Ugwu with the “Space Careers” and Agu John-Paul Okechukwu who taught on: ‘Understanding our environment thorough earth observation” all highlighted the impacts of Space Science researches and innovations in our environment.

During the training session, the students also had opportunities to access the SE-ZASTAL’s facilities to test just as they were also exposed to the activities of NASDRA in other States such as; The National Centre for Remote Sensing, Jos, Centre for Basic Space Science, Nsukka, Enugu state. Centre for Atmospheric Research, Anyigba, Kogi State, Ile-Ife, Lagos among others.

Some of the students who shared their experiences after the lecture including an SSS2 student, Okorie Ifeanyichukwu Timothy described the training as “well-organized”, noting that it would stimulate students’ interest in the technical aspects of promotion and its applications.

Another student, Ogbonna Confidence urged the government to support teachers and researchers in the agency, expressing her willingness to take her time to visit the Agency’s headquarters and other NASRDA offices during holidays.