The Federal Government has tasked the Africa Group on Earth Observation (AfriGEO) to promote continental space policies and strengthen Africa’s capacity to produce and use Earth observation data for development.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja at the 10th AfriGEO Symposium.
The event is being hosted by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the GEO Secretariat of Nigeria from October 5 to 8.
The symposium, themed “Earth Observation for a Resilient Africa,” is attracting more than 400 participants from across Africa and beyond.
Udeh said Africa’s space economy is currently valued at about $25 billion and growing at an annual rate of 18 per cent, with projections that it will reach $40 billion by 2030.
He said the growth presented significant opportunities for African geospatial and Earth observation experts.
He therefore urged global partners to engage African countries as co-partners in developing local capabilities rather than merely as technology procurement markets.
“We must move from dependent technology to data ownership, and from satellite imagery to actionable national intelligence that will address climate change, food security and security challenges.
“Africa must therefore play this critical role in promoting continental space policy.
“We should use this platform to promote African operation in satellite technology, data infrastructure, research, standardisation, capacity building, technology development, and commercial application.
“Africa must not remain merely a market for satellite data produced elsewhere. Africa must increasingly become a producer of satellite data, artificial intelligence, and Earth observational applications, space technologies for Africa,” Udeh said.
The minister said Nigeria was contributing to the continental objective through the development of four new satellites approved by President Bola Tinubu — three high-resolution Earth observation satellites and one Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite.
He said Nigeria was implementing its 25-year roadmap for space development, which began in 2005 and runs to 2030.
He added that Tinubu had stressed that Nigeria should participate, compete and contribute to the emerging geospatial technology frontier.
Director-General of NASRDA, Prof. Matthew Adepoju, said Earth observation had become critical to addressing Africa’s interconnected challenges, including climate change, floods, drought, food insecurity, water stress, rapid urbanisation and environmental degradation.
Adepoju said the key issue was no longer access to data, but the ability to convert Earth observation into decisions, services and actions that improve the lives of Africans.
“Africa needs Earth observation systems that are increasingly integrated, operational and user-driven, connecting satellite observations, ground information, modelling, artificial intelligence and institutional knowledge to the decisions that matter,” he said.
Adepoju said Nigeria had developed a growing portfolio of satellite assets, including NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat-2, NigeriaSat-X, NigeriaEduSat-1 and DELSAT-1.
He said NASRDA was also implementing projects such as the IrrEO initiative, which uses satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to map irrigated croplands nationally in support of food security, while strengthening collaboration with Digital Earth Africa and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Adepoju said the emerging African space economy offered opportunities beyond satellites, including data services, analytics, artificial intelligence, geospatial platforms, downstream businesses and skilled human capital.
He called for greater investment in infrastructure and human capacity, enabling policies, sustainable financing and stronger pathways for moving research and pilot projects into operational services.
The Chief of Defence Space Administration, Maj.-Gen. Philip Ilodibia, said timely and reliable geospatial information was critical to security, particularly in the areas of situational awareness, early warning, operational planning and informed decision-making.
Ilodibia called for stronger collaboration among African space institutions, government agencies, academia, the private sector and international partners, as well as greater opportunities for young professionals and researchers.
The symposium is expected to strengthen partnerships among governments, space agencies, researchers, development partners, private-sector actors and young professionals.
It aims to build resilient and sustainable Earth observation systems for Africa.
The 10th AfriGEO Symposium is also expected to produce the Abuja AfriGEO Declaration on Earth Observation for a Resilient Africa, a 10-Year Legacy Report, among others.
