PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Nigeria's National Space Council inaugurated in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigerians "must evolve clear cut initiatives that will not only fast-track our industrialisation process, but one that will also see us, within the shortest possible period, able to build our own motor vehicles, our own boats, and our own aircraft; and of course, launch our own satellite manufactured in Nigeria from a launch site in Nigeria on a launch vehicle made in Nigeria."
Giving the charge Tuesday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital city, while inauguration the National Space Council, President Jonathan said "This is a challenge not only to the members of the Council, but to all Nigerians. We should rededicate ourselves to building a better, technologically advanced, stable and prosperous Nigeria for our children."
He disclosed that the critical place of space technology in the areas of national security, communications, industrialisation and sustained socio-economic development, the critical need to properly structure and drive the national space programme, informed his Administration's resolve to constituted the Council with high calibre membership.
"I would like, therefore, to charge the members of the Space Council to evolve ways of enabling the country maximally benefit from our huge investments in the development of space technology," President Jonathan charged.
He said that in 2011, "our nation’s space programme witnessed unprecedented developments. It was a year in which some of the major objectives which informed the establishment of the National Space and Development Agency were accomplished.
"I refer in particular to the mandate to develop satellite technology for various applications; operationalise indigenous space systems for providing space services; and the launch of satellites," President Jonathan said, adding that "The year 2011 saw the launch of two earth observation satellites one of which, NigeriaSat-X, was designed and built by Nigerian engineers and scientists. This is a feat worthy of celebration!"
According to President Jonathan, "In reiterating our Administration’s unwavering commitment to the actualisation of the definitive goal of our space programme, I would like to charge the members of the Space Council to evolve ways of enabling the country maximally benefit from our huge investments in the development of space technology."
PANA recalls that the National Space Council is the apex body charged with the responsibility of developing policy guidelines for activities in the Space. It also has the vital role of monitoring the implementation of the National Space Programme.
Membership of the National Space Council is as follows:-
1. The President – Chairman
2. The Vice-President – Deputy Chairman
3. Minister of Science & Technology
4. Minister of Communication Technology
5. Minister of Education
6. Minister of Defence
7. Minister of Interior
8. Minister of National Planning
9. Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice
10. Professor Elijah Mshelia
11. Professor Vincent Olunloyo
12. Professor Francesca N. Okeke
13. Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA)
-0- PANA VAO 11June2013
Giving the charge Tuesday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital city, while inauguration the National Space Council, President Jonathan said "This is a challenge not only to the members of the Council, but to all Nigerians. We should rededicate ourselves to building a better, technologically advanced, stable and prosperous Nigeria for our children."
He disclosed that the critical place of space technology in the areas of national security, communications, industrialisation and sustained socio-economic development, the critical need to properly structure and drive the national space programme, informed his Administration's resolve to constituted the Council with high calibre membership.
"I would like, therefore, to charge the members of the Space Council to evolve ways of enabling the country maximally benefit from our huge investments in the development of space technology," President Jonathan charged.
He said that in 2011, "our nation’s space programme witnessed unprecedented developments. It was a year in which some of the major objectives which informed the establishment of the National Space and Development Agency were accomplished.
"I refer in particular to the mandate to develop satellite technology for various applications; operationalise indigenous space systems for providing space services; and the launch of satellites," President Jonathan said, adding that "The year 2011 saw the launch of two earth observation satellites one of which, NigeriaSat-X, was designed and built by Nigerian engineers and scientists. This is a feat worthy of celebration!"
According to President Jonathan, "In reiterating our Administration’s unwavering commitment to the actualisation of the definitive goal of our space programme, I would like to charge the members of the Space Council to evolve ways of enabling the country maximally benefit from our huge investments in the development of space technology."
PANA recalls that the National Space Council is the apex body charged with the responsibility of developing policy guidelines for activities in the Space. It also has the vital role of monitoring the implementation of the National Space Programme.
Membership of the National Space Council is as follows:-
1. The President – Chairman
2. The Vice-President – Deputy Chairman
3. Minister of Science & Technology
4. Minister of Communication Technology
5. Minister of Education
6. Minister of Defence
7. Minister of Interior
8. Minister of National Planning
9. Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice
10. Professor Elijah Mshelia
11. Professor Vincent Olunloyo
12. Professor Francesca N. Okeke
13. Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA)
-0- PANA VAO 11June2013
