Abuja: Stakeholders from various sectors have called for an urgent and effective collaboration to propel investment in satellite infrastructure and also prioritise integration of space technologies into development blueprints. The stakeholders made the call in Abuja in a communiqu© issued by Mrs Olayemi John-Mensah, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Investment's (ACCI) Media and Strategic Officer, after a three-day 2025 Africa Space Economy Conference and Exhibition (ASEC).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference was organised by the ACCI and National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), with the theme 'Space Economy and Emerging Markets in Africa.' The conference had government officials, private sector players, research institutions, development partners, diplomatic communities, and international organisations in participation. The participants, however, expressed optimism about Africa's growing involvement in the space ecosystem while also identifying key structural challenges.
The communiqu© highlighted challenges such as limited access to satellite infrastructure, inadequate funding for innovation, and the need for skilled labor in satellite engineering, data processing, and policy development. It emphasized that stakeholders should prioritize the integration of space technologies into development blueprints, particularly in agriculture, health, urban planning, and telecom.
The stakeholders at the conference recommended that governments, through agencies such as NASRDA, should expand access to satellite infrastructure via different models to stimulate private-sector participation. They urged the African Union (AU) and Member States to use their regulatory frameworks and jointly promote research, education, and technology transfer within the continent.
The communiqu© stressed the importance of capacity-building programs tailored to include youth and women, especially through partnerships with universities and technical institutes. It suggested exploring sustainable financing models such as blended finance, government grants, venture capital, and donor support for space innovation.
Additionally, the communiqu© recommended developing a national monitoring strategy using space technologies to monitor, enforce compliance, and derive maximum value from natural resources. Stakeholders also encouraged NASRDA and ACCI to establish an Emerging Technology Innovation Park focusing on Information Communication Technology (ICT), robotics, and geospatial applications to support entrepreneurship in the sector.
Government institutions should be mandated to adopt satellite data systems for planning, monitoring, and reporting, driven by space capabilities. The communiqu© also called for increased awareness among the public and industrial sectors about the value of space data, achievable through targeted outreach and national campaigns.
Furthermore, the stakeholders recommended that Nigeria should deepen its data partnerships with regional and global institutions to enhance access to cutting-edge space assets and promote knowledge exchange. Relevant ministries and national planning offices should have designated officers to coordinate space programs, aligning implementation with national strategies.
In the areas of military and security, they recommended that training and adoption of space technologies should be deployed to enhance national safety and surveillance operations, among other recommendations.