The Nigerian government has partnered with the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), a United States-based agency, to send a Nigerian to space.
The Memorandum of Understanding with the agency was signed on behalf of the government by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) on Wednesday.
Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, said the partnership is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to advancing its capabilities in space exploration, adding that the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with SERA would inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers.
Mathew Adepoju, Director-General of NASRDA, said the partnership would yield remarkable milestones in human space exploration within the continent and beyond.
“This collaboration, which is coming to the country, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of the space exploration journey and opens new opportunities for scientific research and technological advancement,” he said.
Joshua Skurla, the co-founder of SERA, said, “Until now, space has been an exclusive domain, with over 80% of all astronauts to date coming from just three countries.
“Nigeria has a rich history of scientific and technological innovation, and we are honoured to partner with NASRDA to extend this legacy into space and create new opportunities for Nigerian space explorers.”
