News
NASRDA Says Nigeria’s Plan to Launch a Satellite No Longer Feasible
Dr. Halilu Shaba, director-general, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has announced announced the postponement of its 2025 plan to launch a satellite from Nigeria.
Dr. Shaba, who disclosed this during the NASRDA Day presentation at the 8th Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Expo cited sufficient funding.
He noted that the ambitious plan had to be put on hold.
Aside from the satellite launch plans, the Director-General also mentioned that the agency does not possess the financial resources to send an astronaut into space.
According to him, the cost associated with such a mission is prohibitively high.
Hence, for the moment, such endeavors are beyond the agency’s current financial reach. However, this situation highlights the agency’s continued efforts to build capacity amidst challenging economic circumstances.
Dr. Shaba further explained that the process of planning and securing a launch slot for an astronaut takes approximately five years.
He emphasized the impracticality of advising the government to train an astronaut at present without a confirmed slot, as the individual might age and no longer be fit for space travel by the time a slot becomes available.
The ambitious goal to send a Nigerian astronaut into space, as well as launching a domestically produced satellite by 2025, was previously outlined as part of the agency’s 25-year plan.
In October 2023, the Director-General projected a promising future for Nigeria’s space industry, estimating its potential value to be up to $1 billion.
He envisioned that Nigeria could generate as much as $20 million from launching a single satellite, should the country succeed in developing its own Assembly, Integration, and Testing Laboratory (AITL).
These projections underscore the potential for the space industry to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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