From the SSPI-Nigeria Chapter
What is most exciting about the space and satellite industry in Nigeria is the fact that satellite-enabled tractors can be used for cost-effective and cutting-edge agriculture by farmers.
Consequently, SSPI Nigeria is currently starting up Student Chapters in tertiary institutions across the states in the country. These promising young professionals would need technical training that will prepare them for advanced careers in the space & satellite industry. SSPI Nigeria needs foreign technical partners to achieve this desire.
Broadband internet connectivity and access is another area that will grow space & satellite applications and services in Nigeria. Our promising young professionals will benefit from partnerships and collaborations that will bring the requirements for these applications and services.
Our biggest challenge is access to the required space segment support and fund these activities will entail.
The emerging LEO Satellite constellations by OneWeb, SpaceX and others are needed to promote SSPI-Nigeria Planned Technical Programs.
The Training Topics we are looking for:
- Cost-effective cutting-edge agriculture using satellite-enabled tractors.
- Direct–To–Home (DTH) Broadband internet Connectivity/Access using 5G Technologies.
Why Do We Need the Training(s)?
Our research efforts have shown that these two trainings will offer the expected high commercial viability the Space and Satellite Industry has been looking for in a fast-developing nation such as Nigeria and other African countries.
We need modern techniques provided by satellite-enabled tractors to put food on the table everyday to solve our immediate problem of food shortage in Nigeria and other African countries.
- In Nigeria, a satellite-based DTH broadband Internet access will be a big boost for the space & satellite industry.
- We need to start training our youth on the Networking Layer Perspective to build the required talent to drive the application and services of the emerging satellite constellations such as that of SpaceX (Elon Musk), Airbus-OneWeb-Satellites, using 5G Technologies.
- As real professionals, it is time for us to emphasize space & satellite applications in telecommunications, earth observation, space navigation and related disciplines which are at the heart of a space-based digital economy and among the highest job opportunities worldwide.
- In addition, as SSPI-Nigeria executives, we need a forum to meet with technical partners face-to-face to discuss the planned trainings and requirements for our increasing member of students chapters whose members will soon become graduates
and our young professionals ready for job market in the space & satellite industry. - Discussions will also include strategies to expand business marketing, sales, installations, services and applications for satellite-based broadband products in Nigeria going forward.
- Furthermore, we need drives that will increase the accessibility of broadband via satellite and lead to greater penetration in the large, medium, and small office/home office markets segments. These include:
- Government development projects
- Satellite-Enabled business establishments
- Encouraging individuals to install their own earth terminals
- Having organizations/professional bodies play greater role in research, development and training. This is where SSPI/SSPI-Nigeria comes in.
Our research work shows that the key drivers that will propel satellite-enabled networks into a growth cycle for African countries, including Nigeria are:
- The cost of earth terminal equipment needs to drop.
- Prices for transmission services and transponder capacity also need to stabilize.
- Better management, more innovative hardware and software add-ons which would dramatically increase the reach, reliability and quality of enterprise satellite networks.
On the government side, the key drivers for enhanced satellite networks are projects on EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, and FINANCIAL OPERATIONS.
Consequently, to champion the above drives, SSPI-Nigeria truly needs SSPI Member contributions and that of SpaceX (Elon Musk), Airbus-OneWeb-Satellites or other space and satellite based companies in terms of technical trainings for Nigerian youths (Young SSPI Nigeria Professionals), and other African youths.
We will be grateful to have this plan actualized so that more jobs will be created for our youths.
SSPI support will help the chapter efforts towards career mentoring for our young ones seeking a career path in the industry. The goals are to influence their education and engage future employees and customers. Remember that investment is the fuel for transformation, but people are the engine, and SSPI helps the industry attract, develop and retain the talent it needs to keep the engine (people) turning.
SSPI-Nigeria is also working with the aviation industry in Nigeria to foster appreciation for the importance of space and satellite applications and services to advance its growth. Please see the brochure for more information on this.
