The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu has said that the Ministry will continue to utilize space technology to boost vital sectors of the Nigerian Economy.
Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed this during the demonstration of the Automated Irrigation Technology Intervention System by the National Space Research and Development Agency on Monday 11 June, 2018 in Abuja. “With this system, we can have agriculture all-year-around. Today we are growing more rice than we did previously and we are making very important impact on other crops. It is very important for Nigerians to see that Space Science and technology is very important in helping Nigeria to achieve rapid economic development” he added.
He further said that the application of Space Technology will further positively impact on agriculture, national security, health services, education and manufacturing sector. According to him, with space technology and this latest innovation, young Nigerians are advised to take to farming and reap maximum benefits in terms of huge profits. He intensified that the application of space technology will solve the drudgery of farming and enable young Nigerians to be self-reliant, while boosting food security for the nation.
The Minister assured Nigerians that the agencies of the Ministry are now poised to roll out more scientific inventions and innovations. Onu charged the National Research Space and Development Agency to delve into Artificial Intelligence and Robotics as a way of making Nigerian economy to become knowledge and innovation driven.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Mohammed Saidu said the that Automated Irrigation Technology Intervention System will make agriculture smarter, precise and attract young ones to agriculture. He stressed that it had been tested on different types of soil from organic, sandy and clay soil in the last six months. He also informed it can be controlled from the comfort of one’s home.
Mohammed Saidu called on the private sector to invest in the new technology and reap maximum financial dividends.
