[SatNews] The Director, Center for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), Dr. Spencer Onu, has assured stakeholders that Nigeria will develop an indigenous space shuttle satellite by 2030.

According to Dr. Onu, the components needed for the development of the satellite are presently being developed. He added that scientists and engineers at the Center have the capacity to launch the "made in Nigeria satellite" by 2030. The Director who made the disclosure in Abuja this past weekend at the CSTD week said the incoming administration should exploit the opportunities in space science to advance the country's economic well-being through job creation.

Dr. Onu said, “The CSTD week, since it began four years ago, has been addressing some specific issues. This year, we are addressing the missing link in the application of space technology." A key missing link is the lack of space education in the country’s academic curricula. “Only Nigerian university has aerospace engineering—their program has been approved by the Council but has not yet started. Kogi State Polytechnic also had its own approved curriculum, but that department is yet to be initiated. So, this is the missing link,” he said. He added that the Center is doing its best to bridge the gap.

Onu advised the new administration to look into the Assembly Integration and Testing Center (AIT) as their priority for space sector development. The establishment of AIT, he added, will initiate huge employment.

The Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency, Professor Mohammed Sheidu, also expressed delight that the CSTD scientists have been fully involved in the design and manufacture of all of its satellites He said, “The Center's engineers and scientists have demonstrated their capability by solely designing and manufacturing the Nigeria Sat-X, an Earth Observation satellite, using the facilities at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in United Kingdom (UK).”

Story is courtesy of ThisDayLive, written by Dele Ogbodo.