Nigeria, India to use space development to boost agriculture

INDIA and Nigeria have agreed to cooperate on space development with a view to boosting agriculture, as well as communication and improve standard of living of their citizenry.

This was part of the agreement reached during a courtesy visit by the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Nagabhushana Reddy, to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, in his office in Abuja.

Onu, in his remark, said Nigeria was desirous of making her economy knowledge-based and innovation-driven, adding that Nigeria would gain much from the Indian experience in space science and nuclear technology.

He said Nigeria was committed to developing space science because it had enormous role to play in improving her people’s standard of living, especially in agriculture and communication.

The minister said, given astronomical rise in Nigeria’s population, Nigeria would gain a lot from India’s ability and capacity to manage its own huge population.

He commended India for its achievement in exporting high-level manpower to the world, adding that Nigeria was expanding her space technology for the benefit of Nigerians and humanity.

Earlier, Mr Reddy, said his visit was informed by the need to explore ways of improving the capacity of Nigeria Scientist and Space Technologists in India.

He said his visit was of mutual benefit, as India would learn from Nigerian experience in space technology and remote sensing to enable mapping of mineral and natural resources for exploration and mining purposes.