By Chimezie Godfrey
Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging space technology for national development, sovereignty and security, as stakeholders gathered in Abuja for the 2026 Satellite Week.
Speaking at the opening, the Managing Director/CEO of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Jane Edderton, described the event as “a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s collective commitment to harness the power of space.”
“This gathering for me is more than a convening of industry leaders, governments and institutions. It is a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s collective commitment to harness the power of space, not just for national development, but for national sovereignty and national security,” she said.
Edderton noted that the theme of the event, “Harnessing Space for an Extraordinary Nigeria,” reflects a critical moment in Nigeria’s technological journey.
“It’s a theme that challenges us not to merely celebrate what we have achieved, but to account for it honestly and define clearly what must come next,” she added.
She highlighted Nigeria’s growing role in the global space economy, noting that satellite broadband in Africa is expanding at nearly 20 per cent annually, while the continent’s broadcast market is valued at $5.8 billion.
According to her, Nigeria is currently ranked third in Africa in space capabilities, with seven space assets deployed.
“Out of 54 countries in Africa, only 19 have space presence, and Nigeria is ranked number three. That shows intentionality,” she said.
Edderton disclosed that NigComSat has evolved into a multi-service provider delivering connectivity, broadcasting infrastructure and broadband services across Africa.
She also revealed that over 500 young Nigerians were trained in satellite technology across four states in 2025, while the organisation’s accelerator programme has supported over 50 startups.
“We will formally launch Cohort 3… a milestone that signals that the accelerator is not a pilot but a permanent feature,” she said.
On partnerships, she noted that NigComSat secured a landmark low-earth orbit connectivity agreement with UTELSAT and initiated collaboration with the Kenyan Space Agency.
She added that Nigeria now holds the vice chairmanship of the Global Satellite Operators Association.
“In over two decades of its existence, there has never been an African on the leadership. So when we say Nigeria has a seat, Africa has a seat,” she said.
She also highlighted Project 774, aimed at providing broadband connectivity to all local government secretariats nationwide.
“The purpose of Nigeria’s space programme is not prestige; it is people,” she stressed.
Edderton commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving two additional satellites, describing it as “a defining moment.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, emphasised the strategic importance of satellite technology.
“Satellite technology sits right at the centre of the digital transformation we are seeing,” he said.
Tijani noted that Nigeria remains the only country in West Africa with a communication satellite, stressing its regional importance.
He disclosed that the federal government is investing in 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure, 4,000 telecom towers, and new satellites.
“There’s never been a time in the history of this country where government is backing investment in connectivity as much as we’re doing today,” he said.
The minister also announced a N12 billion Digital Economy Research Fund to support academic research across six clusters.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration between government, academia and industry to maximise the benefits of space technology.
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