Nigeria announces plans to send the country’s first astronaut into space

Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Uche Nnaji, announced his country’s plans to send the first Nigerian astronaut into orbit, as part of its growing space program.

The Minister stressed that this step comes within an important goal of the Nigerian space program and policy approved in 2001, which forms part of the Hope Agenda implemented by President Bola Tinubu to achieve the long-term aspirations of the Nigerian people.

The minister explained that this step coincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Nigerian space program, and that the planned mission for the first Nigerian astronaut could take place either by the end of this year or in 2025, based on the memorandum of understanding signed in Abuja between the Nigerian government and the American Space Exploration and Research Agency.

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