Why Nigeria hasn’t benefited from space technology –Don

The Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Anthony Nwokoye, on Friday said that Nigeria had yet to reap the benefits of space technology due to inadequate government support. Nwokoye, a professor of Physics, in an interview with our correspondent, explained that although the country had launched satellites into space, it had yet to reap the benefits due to poor exploration. He hinged the slow development of space science in the country on inadequate support and commitment by the government. The lecturer’s remark came on the heels of the International Day of Human Space Flight celebration which holds today. He said unlike other countries, Nigeria had failed in developing the technology to explore the outer space due to government’s lack of interest in supporting space science education in tertiary institutions. Nwokoye said, “Nigeria has not got the technology to promote any space science for now because our government is not interested in it. “Presently, there is nothing on the ground to show that our country is interested in the science. We can actually do it if we start to plan for it from now. We have redundant space centres in the country due to neglect by the government. “If the country can commit resources to the development of space exploration, we will get there.” According to the United Nations, the International Day of Human Space Flight is a day that celebrates the start of the space era for humankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in today’s world. The day, which was first declared on April 12, 2011, also aims at promoting aspirations to explore and maintain outer space for peaceful purposes. The International Human Space Flight Day is annually held on April 12 to commemorate the first human space flight which was carried out by a Soviet citizen, Yuri Gagarin, the world’s first cosmonaut to travel to outer space, on April 12, 1961.