A statement by Dr Felix Ale, the director, Media and Corporate Communications of the Agency, says the historic event which was first of its kind in Nigeria took place at NASRDA Headquarters in Abuja and brought together students from various schools across the Federal Capital Territory.

The landmark event was witnessed by Dr. Matthew Adepoju, the director general and chief executive of NASRDA, alongside the Agency’s top management team, School administrators, students and stakeholders in the science and technology education sector.

Dr. Adepoju, in his welcome address described the development as a record-breaking stride in Africa’s space exploration journey, noting that the feat was strategically designed to inspire and nurture the interest of the younger generation in space science and technology.

He described the students as the hope of the nation and urged them to continually appreciate the purposeful leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Nnaji, whose vision has accelerated Nigeria’s advancement in science and technology.

The NASRDA boss also commended the programme coordinator Mrs. Joy Olayiwola and the team at GeoApps Plus Limited of the Space Agency for what he identified “a giant stride” in the success of the Nigerian Space Programme.

During the event, Mr. Tope Owolabi of the Department of Physical and Life Sciences also delivered a presentation highlighting the global significance and practical application of space science, spanning earth observation, satellite technology, and medical innovations.

The climax of the event was the live question and answer session, moderated by Stefan Dombrowski from Belgium and John Sygo from South Africa, where Zena Cardman engaged freely with the students, providing insightful responses to their various questions.

The interactive session was widely described as inspiring, educative, and memorable.

Mr Emmanuel Onwuabuariri, the managing director, GeoApps Plus Limited, lauded Dr. Adepoju for his visionary leadership in driving NASRDA’s transformation.

He assured that subsequent editions of the program would be bigger and more impactful.

The event ended with presentation of certificates of attendance to participating schools by NASRDA Boss, Dr. Adepoju, who again re-echoed his plea to the students to imbibe a culture of continuous learning, and to channel their potentials toward nation building.

The mission, Crew-11, is more than just a routine flight to the International Space Station (ISS). It carries the World Seeds Payload, a collaborative agricultural science experiment led by Jaguar Space in partnership with 11 nations, including Nigeria.

Indigenous Crops Take Flight

Nigeria’s contribution to this pioneering mission? A carefully curated selection of six indigenous crop seeds:

• Okra
• Cowpea
• Guinea corn (sorghum)
• Amaranth
• Maize
• Melon

Chosen for their nutritional value, cultural heritage, and agricultural resilience, these seeds are headed to space for one extraordinary reason: to be studied under microgravity conditions aboard the ISS.

The goal? To understand how spaceflight affects seed structure, viability, and growth potential, critical knowledge in the quest for climate-smart agriculture, global food security, and possibly, farming in space.

A Mission Years in the Making

At the heart of Nigeria’s role in this mission is Olayinka Fagbemiro, Assistant Director of NASRDA’s International Cooperation & Linkages Department, and Nigeria’s Project Lead for the initiative.

From the painstaking seed selection to international logistics and agency representation, Fagbemiro has been instrumental in steering Nigeria’s involvement, from vision to launch pad.

The seeds made their way to the United States after NASRDA and Jaguar Space formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), further cementing Nigeria’s place in global scientific dialogue.

Nigeria’s First Biological Payload in Space

This mission marks a historic first for NASRDA: the first time a biological payload from Nigeria will fly on a crewed NASA mission to the ISS. But beyond headlines, it validates years of research by NASRDA’s Department of Physical and Life Sciences, which has long studied similar crops in simulated gravity environments here on Earth.

Now, those theories are headed for real-world testing, 250 miles above ground.

Science Rooted in Culture, Growing in Space

The World Seeds Payload is not just a technical experiment, it’s a symbol of inclusive, culturally grounded space science.

It underscores how emerging space nations like Nigeria can shape humanity’s future in space, using tools and knowledge rooted in local heritage.

As NASRDA’s seeds float in microgravity alongside cutting-edge global experiments, they carry with them the dreams of a continent, where tradition meets innovation, and where African crops may one day feed interplanetary missions.

*Follow Techeconomy for more stories on Nigeria’s growing role in space science, agri-tech, and digital transformation.

One local example of this is Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education Board Commission (UBEC) which recently partnered with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to launch a cloud server for monitoring and evaluating the performance of academic institutions.

Leveraging the scalability and flexibility of the cloud, institutions and sector stakeholders have an opportunity to revolutionise IT operations in education at the same time the sector itself is realigning to new ways of working and administration.

It also opens the door for the sector to reshape its relationship with data capturing and management, which in turn can lead to new and optimised operational efficiencies, valuable and actionable insights, and an overall improvement in the quality and delivery of education to students across Nigeria and the West African region.

The need for technology integration

Facing critical challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, insufficient teacher training, and limited access to modern learning tools and resources, Nigeria’s education sector cannot afford to play catch-up with the greater trend of digital transformation.

If there is one lesson to be taken from the COVID-19 crisis and the global pivot to hybrid and remote learning models, it is that a certain level of digital readiness is required, and that institutions and sector stakeholders need to prioritise integrating technology into their learning and administration systems.

As online learning platforms and AI-driven education tools become more prolific, institutions require enterprise-grade IT infrastructure that can meet the daily needs of teachers and administrators, both in terms of reaching and teaching their students, and contributing to sustainable sector growth and development.

For example, by sharing technology environments, schools and agencies can pool their resources to drive innovation as well as standardise their business practices to introduce and implement new efficiencies. This is what cloud computing at its core helps enable, and from which educators can unlock further benefits and opportunities.

Benefits for students and educators

Where cloud computing starts to show value is how it enables educational institutions to scale their IT services to their needs without having to make significant investments in physical infrastructure.

While institutions may still require reliable internet connectivity and the necessary skills for implementation and management, the cloud boasts a level of cost-effectiveness and scalability that makes it optimal for markets such as Nigeria.

Cloud computing also opens the door to greater inclusivity and access by enabling learners and educators to access tools and resources wherever they are.

Furthermore, they can communicate and collaborate on projects and assignments in real time via cloud-based learning management systems (LMS) and other platforms. In the instance where cloud infrastructure is used for the purpose of quality assurance, as is the case with the UBEC and NASRDA partnership, it can help the sector pivot from a traditional school inspection and oversight model to one founded on standardised and systemic monitoring and evaluation processes.

The power of AI, data and analytics

Just like every business sector today, education has the potential to unlock added value through its handling of data and the adoption of analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

In this use case, administrators can gather data such as student demographics and test scores, attendance rates, online activity, behaviour, and any other information that can be used to identify patterns and transformed into actionable insights. In doing so, administrators can enhance their decision-making and ultimately improve educational processes and outcomes.

AI takes this one step further in terms of both supporting educators and enhancing their roles. For example, facing a shortage of adequately skilled professionals, AI can be used to automate routine teaching duties and streamline administrative tasks, allowing them to engage more with their students and create a richer learning experience.

AI/ML models can also enhance that experience through customisation and personalised content, tailoring it to meet individual needs and expectations.

Finally, AI can help expedite the student assessment process, providing teachers with timely feedback and helping identify students’ strengths and weaknesses.

All this is possible with cloud-based software, platforms, and infrastructure, all of which can serve as the foundation for sector-wide transformation.

By embracing a cloud-driven IT strategy, Nigeria’s education sector can reap the benefits of 4IR technologies and equip future generations for success.

According to this integrated marketing expert, machine learning algorithms now have the foolproof ability to predict potential risks based on historical data and past occurrences.

She maintained that this feat allows organizations to proactively address risks before they escalate and communicate with relevant stakeholders in a more informed manner and in the nick of time.

Recall that Omolaraeni Olaosebikan last year won a contract with The Meteorological Office UK (Met Office) to develop improved communications practices on flood crisis information and work out meaningful risk communication strategies to mitigate perennial flooding in Nigeria.

The project is being sponsored by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and it is expected to bring together several relevant government agencies, like NIMET, NASRDA, NIHSA, NEMA, etc while also engaging in some desk-based research and consultations.

She said: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized risk communication by enabling organizations to analyze data, predict risks, and communicate with stakeholders more effectively with precision to solutions.

“In recent times, I have been involved in flood management, and natural disaster studies with the MET Office and FCDO which you are aware of and I desire I go steps further to be more involved in ways to help the vulnerable people amongst us. Those who day-to-day live in abject poverty and deprivation because of what natural disasters, pandemics, and other related crises have done to them and the government possibly not even looking to help their needs and preferences.”

The very engaging session took a better part of the female CEO’s time on Thursday even as she professionally responded to how to mitigate social vulnerability through AI-assisted risk communication strategies.

Her words,

“Risk communication essentially relies heavily on data analysis to identify potential threats, trends, and patterns. As I’ve said previously, AI-powered tools can process vast amounts of structured and unstructured data from various sources, including social media, news articles, and reports, to uncover valuable insights. By analyzing this data, organizations can gain a better understanding of emerging risks and tailor their communication strategies accordingly.

“AI’s predictive capabilities are invaluable for risk communication. Machine learning algorithms can predict potential risks based on historical data and past occurrences. This foresight allows organizations to proactively address risks before they escalate and communicate with stakeholders in a more informed manner.”

Fielding questions on empowering vulnerable communities with risk communication and AI technology strategies for resilience and safety, the McEnies Global Communications CEO reacted and said:

“AI can seamlessly help to mitigate the risks identified by providing recommendations, actions, and solutions. It can equally use data-driven awareness to suggest the best ways to reduce or eliminate the risk and create safety nets for the target or vulnerable segments of society. The aggregates of insights drawn from this can ultimately help to either enforce policies through government agencies or legislation from the Parliament, or run advocacy programmes to deepen the right message and techniques for the target groups and relevant stakeholders especially during, before, or after emergency situations.”

While stressing on risk communication and AI technology strategies and dose for saving social vulnerability, Omolaraeni gave this submission to the media:

“I’m not here to stir any scare, but the reality is that the fourth industrial revolution is in full swing, bringing with it a wave of technological advancements that have the potential to reshape every aspect of human life across the globe. Artificial Intelligence is at the forefront of this revolution, promising to transform various sectors and drive inclusive growth. In Africa, could the adoption of AI and related technologies accelerate the continent’s development and help to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The answer is: Yes!”

“Natural disasters are inherently unpredictable, but their consequences can be mitigated through early intervention and effective preparedness. These events can have devastating economic, social, and environmental impacts. Preventing natural disasters or minimizing their damage is a global imperative. AI, with its ability to process vast amounts of data, analyze patterns, and make real-time predictions, will definitely revolutionize our approach to disaster prevention.

“Before delving into the ways AI can assist in disaster prevention, it’s crucial to understand the nature of these events. Natural disasters are broadly categorized into geological, meteorological, hydrological, and climatological phenomena. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis fall under geological disasters, while meteorological disasters include hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards. Hydrological disasters involve floods and landslides, and climatological disasters encompass droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires.

“One of the most crucial aspects of disaster prevention is providing early warnings to vulnerable populations. AI-powered systems can process data from various sources, including weather sensors, satellites, and social media, to detect early signs of impending disasters. For example, in the case of hurricanes, AI algorithms can analyze atmospheric data to predict their path and intensity accurately. These predictions enable authorities to issue timely warnings and evacuate individuals at risk-prone areas and saving countless lives”

In the aspect of enhancing social vulnerability with AI Technology and risk communication, she noted; “Data-driven artificial intelligence technologies are progressively transforming the humanitarian field, the use of digital technologies in humanitarian action again should not be seen as a new phenomenon. Yet, contemporary advances in computational power, coupled with the availability of vast amounts of data, have allowed for more widespread use of digital technologies in the humanitarian context.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the trend of using digital technologies to help maintain humanitarian operations. AI is broadly understood as a collection of technologies that combine data, algorithms, and computing power. These technologies based on my understanding consist of software and possibly also hardware systems designed by humans that, given a complex goal, act in the physical or digital dimension by perceiving their environment through data acquisition, interpreting the collected structured or unstructured data, reasoning on the knowledge, or processing the information, derived from this data and deciding the best action to take to achieve the given goal and mitigate against disaster.”

On the need to bridge the gap and explore the intersection of AI technology and risk communication, she said;

“Globally, modern workplaces are undergoing a profound digital transformation, and of course here in Nigeria, we shouldn’t be caught napping. In line with this global shift, we must start to recognize and utilize the unparalleled value of AI’s capabilities.

These capabilities bring enhanced operational procedures, heightened productivity upscale success stories, and a growing range of innovative service offerings.

As AI systems become increasingly integrated, we must learn to follow the trend, reshaping the foundation of communication in risk and disaster management, know how to predict right, and cater to diverse needs and preferences.

This transformation weakens the traditional ties within incumbent financial institutions and paves the way for entirely new operational models.

“AI is reshaping the landscape of risk communication, empowering organizations to analyze data, engage with stakeholders, and respond to crises more effectively. By harnessing the potential of AI and upholding ethical standards, organizations can enhance their risk communication strategies and build stronger relationships with stakeholders in today’s rapidly changing world. As technology continues to evolve, AI’s role in risk communication will become more significant, making it an indispensable tool for modern risk managers and communication professionals. And for us at McEnies Global Communications we’re moving at the speed of light to meet up with contemporary standards in tandem with global best practices,” Omolaraeni Olaosebikan stated.

The Final Act comprises both the new and revised provisions of the Radio Regulations, an international treaty governing the use of the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, represented Nigeria and was joined by Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen, the managing director, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat Ltd).

The WRC-2023 is a global, inter-governmental treaty conference which is held every three to four years by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations-affiliated international organization for telecommunications.

At the end of each conference, countries signed unto an updated Final Act, the outcome of agreements on agendas put forward by country administrations.

According to a statement by the ITU, “the agreement to the updated Radio Regulations identifies new spectrum resources to support technological innovation, deepen global connectivity, increase access to and equitable use of space-based radio resources, and enhance safety at sea, in the air, and on land.”

Among the decisions reached, the Conference also identified spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), which will be crucial for expanding broadband connectivity and developing IMT mobile services, also known as 4G, 5G and, in the future, 6G.

The conference also identified new frequencies for non-geostationary fixed-satellite service Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) that would provide high-speed broadband onboard aircraft, vessels, trains, and vehicles.

These satellite services are also critical following disasters where local communication infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

Provisions were also included to protect ship and aircraft mobile service stations located in international airspace and waters from other stations within national territories.

Nigeria’s delegation at the conference comprised seasoned engineers and experts in telecommunications and satellite regulations and governance from the Ministry (NCC), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), NigComSat Ltd, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), telecom operators and other practitioners from the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Tijani, who led the Nigerian delegation at the WRC-2023, thanked the delegation for their sacrifices which, he noted, were made for the collective benefit of the future of Nigeria.

He also enjoined the Nigerian delegation to commence preparation for future conferences to ensure the preservation of the country’s interest by developing capacity through investments in extensive research and inter-agency collaboration.

Also, during an engagement with the Nigerian delegation at the conference, Maida commended the delegation for collaborating towards Nigeria’s best interest.

He emphasised the conference’s significant importance for Nigeria.

According to him, “the agreements reached at this year’s conference will provide valuable spectrum resources that will benefit the Commission’s stakeholders, especially ordinary Nigerians by enhancing service quality and bridging the digital gap in rural areas.

“Additionally, the establishment of international standards for radiocommunications and the decisions made at the conference will impact the development and implementation of new technologies.

“These outcomes align with Nigeria’s overall objectives and the Honorable Minister’s Strategic Plan for the Ministry particularly on expanding broadband connectivity, in harmony with the global transition to 5G and future 6G technologies, as well as improving quality of experience and providing equitable access to all Nigerians.”

The project which is being sponsored by UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will bring together several relevant government agencies, like NIMET, NASRDA, NIHSA, NEMA, etc while also engaging in some desk-based research and consultations.

The team will come together to co-develop improved communications products and protocols to reach the most vulnerable flood prone States and communities like Bayelsa, Lagos, Kebbi, Oyo, Kogi etc, to allow them make life-changing decisions.

The project is expected to last for 6 months and it will cover all the 36 states of Nigeria including FCT, Abuja.

During this period McEnies Global Communications is expected to professionally liaise with Nigeria’s local media across all channels, under a painstaking high-level engagement with government delegates and agencies that are crucial for the success of the well-intentioned project.

This upwardly mobile wholly owned Nigerian company, McEnies Global Communications that is known with vast expertise in strategic, integrated marketing services and digital marketing secured this deal with FCDO and UK Met Office in September, 2023 a confirmation from the company has revealed.

Met Office, is the United Kingdom’s national weather service and an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It’s also known for making meteorological predictions across all timescales from weather forecasts to climate change.

Speaking about its latest feat in blue cheap clientele expansion, Omolaraeni Olaosebikan, the CEO of McEnies Global comms, said the latest milestone would enable the firm to continue to create a cohesive creative communications solution and further strengthen the agency’s ability to offer clients in Nigeria and outside Nigeria value for their money with premium and enduring satisfaction.

She added that sealing a deal with UK FCDO and UK Met Office is a confirmation of her company’s commitment to enhance its communication services offering for clients across the globe.

“Nigeria is one of the biggest economies in sub-Saharan Africa and creates opportunities for an innovative communications firm such as McEnies Global Communications.

“We will not rest on our oars in making use of our global network advantages, coupled with our local professional services experience, to provide strategic communications support to all our clients and of course our fresh contractual agreement with FCDO and UK Met Office to work out communication protocol that can help to mitigate against perennial flooding in Nigeria, and as well create a new conversation and right message with preferred language among vulnerable segments of the society will no doubt project us to the world as a competent and reliable outfit whose integrity, moral rectitude and Jack for excellence can never be compromised.

“This meritorious rise for us as a brand at McEnies Global Communications by dint of hardwood validates our strength in doing what we know how to do best and we are also committed to expand frontiers of integrated marketing communication, unlock more opportunities, break barriers and deepen customers’ satisfaction whilst also putting into cognizance industry standards and codes of ethics in tandem with global best practices,” she said.