By: Adeboye Ado

The Director, Media and Corporate Communications of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Felix Ale, has urged Public Relations practitioners to appreciate the potentials in the space industry and also spread good news to investors for economic emancipation of the country.

Ale made the appeal on Thursday at the Annual General Meeting/Public Lecture organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ondo State Chapter, in Akure.

The NASRDA spokesperson noted that the space had provided the opportunity to achieve many things that were not attainable using the terrestrially available platforms.

He explained that the use of space is important and inseparable to daily activities of man, adding that Nigeria has raised the bar in space sector on the African continent through the focused and intensive activities of NASRDA.

In a paper delivered by him titled: “The Intersection Of Journalism In Public Relations And Advertising And Its Impact On The Society”, Dr. Ale urged journalists to appear independent and unbiased in the reporting of information to the public.

He said, “let me seize this opportunity to inform my distinguished colleagues and participants that Nigeria has raised the bar in the Space sector on the African continent through the focused and intensive activities of the National Space Research and Development Agency.

“It is gratifying to know that various programs such as Geodesy and geodynamics, atmospheric research, remote sensing, among others were created to provide an accessible platform for the optimal exploration of space-based technologies for several application areas such as security, communication, health, finance and investments, natural resources inventory, disaster management, agricultural and emergency response amongst others.”

“Space is referred to as the ultimate platform and it provides the opportunity to achieve many things that are not attainable using the terrestrially available platforms. The use of space science and technology is an integral and inseparable part of our daily lives.

“For example the mobile telephone technology, e-banking, governance, security operations, e-commerce, telemedicine, tele-education, among others are all inseparable part of our modern world that ride on the back wall of space science and technology.”
“It is no gainsaying to assert that without space science and technology our society will not be different from the dark age of our ancestors. The space science and technology industry was an exclusive preserve of big government enterprises such as NASA, ESA, TAXA among others in the time past. This has however changed in the recent years because big private individuals such as Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and many others have become big players in the space industry.”

“In addition to this big players, startup companies keep emerging daily with roots in Space Science and technology industry. It is not an exaggeration to assert that more than 80% of the top 50 of the richest individuals globally today are playing and making the waves in the space echo system. These smart individuals wouldn’t have invested so much in the industry is the potentials are not huge.

“It is in recognition of this fact that the national space research and development agency (NASRDA) has continued to intensify efforts as the leading Space industry in Africa to open up the space echo system for appreciation, utilization and patronage.

“Hence my appeal to these distinguished audience of public relations practitioners is to appreciate the potentials in the space industry and help to spread the good news to our investors for the economic emancipation of our great country and continent.”

The Chairman of the event, Dr. Dayo Duyile, a veteran journalist and the Chairman of the NIPR in Ondo State, Mr. Ishola Lamidi, commended the guest speaker for his thought-provoking delivery while urging practitioners to stick to the ethics of the profession.

A number of personalities were honoured with various categories of awards at the event which also witnessed the election of new officers for the institute.