London, August 14, 2020 (AltAfrica)-Nigerian government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of India on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes

A statement issued by the Director, Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abdulganiyu Aminu, stated that the MoU was signed at the headquarters of the FMST in Abuja during a virtual meeting

The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, signed the MOU on behalf of the Nigeria, while the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhay Thakur, signed on behalf of the Government of India.

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Onu said the MOU would strengthen the deep historic ties between both nations in terms of socioeconomic development, space exploration, environmental safety and trade.

“The MoU envisages India-Nigeria collaboration in space science, planetary exploration, ground stations, development of micro and mini satellites and joint Space R&D,” the statement added.

“It provides for capacity building assistance by ISRO, exchange of scientific know-how, exchanges between academic institutes and joint symposiums/conferences.”

The cooperation, in remote sensing, communications and navigations, the ministry explained, “will benefit Nigeria in the fields of forestry, environment, agriculture, mining, watershed development and connectivity.”

While restating the long-time relationship between the India and Nigeria, the statement noted that in the past twelve years, “49 Nigerian nationals have attended various short-term ITEC courses in India in the fields of Remote Sensing, GIS and Geoinformatics,” adding that the MoU will deepen the Asian nation’s capacity-building assistance to the West African country.

During the event, both countries also agreed to seal a subsidiary MoU between New Space India Limited (NSIL) and Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) on the use of Geospatial Technologies.

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