Stakeholders call for effective collaboration on satellite infrastructure investment

Stakeholders call for effective collaboration on satellite infrastructure investment

Stakeholders from diverse sectors gathered in Abuja for the 2025 Africa Space Economy Conference and Exhibition, jointly organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). Over three days, government officials, private sector representatives, researchers, development partners, diplomats, and international organizations discussed Africa’s increasing involvement in space technologies, while also identifying significant challenges such as limited access to satellite infrastructure, inadequate funding for innovation, and a shortage of skilled professionals in satellite engineering, data processing, and policy formulation.

The participants called for urgent and effective collaboration to boost investment in satellite infrastructure and integrate space technologies into national development plans, particularly in sectors like agriculture, health, urban planning, and telecommunications. They urged governments to expand access to satellite resources through various models that encourage private sector participation and recommended that the African Union and its member states update regulatory frameworks to promote research, education, and technology transfer across the continent.

Other key recommendations included developing national monitoring strategies using space technology for natural resource management, establishing an Emerging Technology Innovation Park focused on ICT, robotics, and geospatial applications to foster entrepreneurship, and mandating government institutions to adopt satellite data systems for planning and monitoring purposes. The conference also emphasized strengthening Nigeria’s data partnerships with regional and global bodies to enhance access to advanced space assets and knowledge exchange. Additionally, it called for dedicated officers in ministries and planning offices to coordinate space programs aligned with national strategies, and the deployment of space technologies in military and security sectors to improve safety and surveillance operations.

Overall, the conference highlighted optimism about Africa’s growing role in the space economy but stressed the need for strategic collaboration, investment, and policy support to fully leverage space technologies for sustainable development.