NewsNigeriaTechnologyFG and US Space Agency Sign a Deal to Send First Nigerian to Space

The Nigerian government has partnered with the US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency, SERA, to send the first Nigerian citizen to space.

The Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was signed in Abuja on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of space exploration.

According to the Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, Mathew Adepoju, the partnership will facilitate the training and launch of a Nigerian astronaut into space.

This initiative is part of Nigeria’s National Space Policy and Programme, NSPP, which aims to promote space exploration and development in the country.

The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, emphasised the importance of this partnership, stating that it will inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers in Nigeria.

“This move has officially moved forward Nigeria’s Human Space Flight Mission. This mission is about more than just sending astronauts; it’s about inspiring a generation,” Nnaji said.

He also highlighted the potential benefits of space exploration, including the development of critical technologies and infrastructure, that would see Nigeria achieve its “national aspirations.”

SERA’s co-founder, Joshua Skurla, expressed his agency’s commitment to making space accessible to all, particularly in countries historically underrepresented in space exploration. He praised Nigeria’s rich history of scientific and technological innovation and expressed excitement about the partnership.

This collaboration is a significant step forward for Nigeria’s space programme, which has been actively pursuing space exploration since 1999. With the support of SERA and Blue Origin, Nigeria is poised to achieve its goal of sending an astronaut into space by 2030.

The selection process for the Nigerian astronaut is expected to be democratic, with the public playing a role in choosing the candidate.

“The Nigerian people will choose the citizen to go to space, the process of application will be open to anybody who is over 18 years old, and there are no other qualifications required,” Sam Hutchison, Founder of SERA, said.

“You will be able to sign up and then encourage others to vote for you; as part of the democratic process, the Nigerian people will select four potential astronaut candidates before a final selection process.

“The important thing to understand is that anybody can apply, you don’t have to be a Scientist, Mathematician or Engineer.

“This is about opening up access to ordinary Nigerians and giving them the opportunity of being the first Nigerian in space.”