Nigeria, Rwanda collaborate on satellite technolgy

By Everest Amaefule
Nigeria has pledged to support the government of Rwanda with satellite data and also collaborate with the country in other strategic areas of science and technology.
Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Ewa, has made the commitment when he received a three-man delegation led by the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Habineza.
The minister said the Federal Government’s desire to partner and support the government of Rwanda in Science and Technology development was to alleviate the socio-economic needs of the people of the two countries.
Ewa said, “There is need for Pan-African linkages and international cooperation for Science and Technology to thrive.
“Nigeria is privileged to share satellite data with countries in the Disaster Monitoring Consolation and is also willing to share relevant satellite resources with Rwanda, which can help in urban and regional planning.
“The Nigeria Institute for Trypanosomeasis Research, which is in collaboration with Kenya and Uganda, will cooperate with Rwanda as well if such collaboration is sought.
“We can also cooperate in areas of Bio-technology in terms of plant modification, Nigeria has developed technology that enables the quick multiplication of plant lives and is also involved in stem cell research.”
Ewa urged African countries to embrace science and technology as key drivers of the economy and advised them to develop science and technology policy that would take into consideration the science and technology initiatives of the African Union.

Stating Nigeria’s readiness to support Rwanda in the area of trypanosomeasis research and biotechnology, Ewa urged them to cooperate with the relevant agencies here in Nigeria.
Habineza stressed the importance attached to science and technology in Rwanda. “The Government of Rwanda is spending a lot on scholarship programmes for Rwanda students that have chosen to study science and technology as their basic courses.”
“We want our Ministry of Science and Technology to partner with your Ministry of Science and Technology.”

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Posted by AfricaSTI on May 22, 2012. Filed under Lead Stories, Regional, Water & Sanitation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry