The Nigerian Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD) has announced its readiness to train Nigerian engineers in the relevant areas, in order to fulfill the goal of designing and fabricating their own space satellites by 2018.
Dr Spencer Onuh said the centre is set to commence training indigenous engineers on the design, testing and fabrication of satellites.
Speaking in Abuja, Onuh said they are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring the 2018 target is met. He added the centre is embarking on the development of the required human capacity that would make it feasible for Nigeria to meet the target.
“Capacity building was a core module in the manufacture and launch of NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat-2, NigeriaSat-X and NigComSat-1-R, owned by the country,” Onuh told The Tide.
He added: “Fifteen other scientists from NigeriaSat-1 and 27 engineers from NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X were trained by the centre, while a number of our engineers and scientists have been trained up to PhD level both within and outside the country.”
HumanIPO reported in December Onuh had called on the numerous agencies involved with satellite and telecommunications to work closer together to fulfill the country’s potential in the industry.
The CSTD is controlled by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA). The goal of the center is to achieve indigenous satellite technology competence to design, test and fabricate a satellite by 2018.
More than 50 Nigerian scientists have been trained by the centre and were actively involved in the design, testing and launching into space of NigcomSat-1 and its replacement.
