NASRDA, FCTA collaborate to honour engineers of nation’s pioneer satellite — DG

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has announced that it would collaborate with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) to honour the engineers that designed Nigeria’s first satellite, Nigeria Sat-1, by naming streets in the territory after them.

The Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Halilu Shaba, stated this at the exhibition of some quick-win projects developed by the agency’s Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD) in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The projects that were exhibited included a Tubesat, Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), Low Frequency Satellite Receiver, Altitude Determination and Control System for Application in Micro-Satellite and S-Band Signal Filtration for a Low Earth Orbit (LEO)Ground Station.

The projects, as components of satellites, were designed to facilitate the indigenous design and development of satellites in the country.

Shaba said that naming streets after those engineers was a way of compensating them for using their talents for the country, as well as encouraging young engineers to understand that here was prestige in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Shaba said, “This year, we are trying to name some streets after the engineers that built Nigeria Sat-1 and gradually we will get to the engineers for Nigeria Sat-2.

“There should be something that come to people who use their brain and talents to get us to where we are.

“We are working with the FCTA to see that these names resonated so that the younger ones will not have that mindset of only engaging in entertainment or sports before they can be recognised.”

The DG added that the ministry was working to establish a Science, Technology and Innovation Television, as well as the agency’s Space Online TV, to publicise the activities of the agency and reinforce the need for science education.