Nigeria on Wednesday joined South Africa to be the second country on the continent to be part of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) GEO-Nigeria, for the promotion of access to data and information.

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) represents Nigeria at the global level.

The group is an intergovernmental partnership that improves Earth Observations data availability, access and use for a sustainable planet.

It is a unique global network of partners comprising over 100 national governments and participating organisations committed to informed decisions and actions by coordinated and sustained EO data.

At the two-day GEO-Nigeria and Radar Training Workshop, Adeleke Mamora, minister of science, technology and innovation, said Nigeria would benefit as a member country.

“It will provide all the stakeholders a national intergovernmental platform for collaborations, partnerships and play a leading role in the activities of NASRDA with focus on EO programmes and missions,” noted the minister.

Mr Mamora said the time “has come for all stakeholders to come together for the effective utilisation of the Space Technology spin-off in Nigeria,” and this “entails improved revenue generation with high-resolution satellite imagery, to the security of lives and properties with geotagged National Identity card and more.”

According to him, there is a developmental paradigm shift, and Nigeria is strategically positioned to serve Africa.

“This will create jobs, reduce capital flight and technological innovations for the youthful and ever-growing 200 million population,” stated the minister.

(NAN)