The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is partnering national space agencies and related technical bodies towards evolving an enduring strategy on space science and geomatics.
A statement issued by the Communications Officer of the ECOWAS Commission, Ngozi Nwolisa, made available to our correspondent on Thursday, noted that this development emerged during a two-day meeting for the validation of the regional strategy on space science and geomatics, which began at the ECOWAS Commission on Wednesday 18th of October.
Declaring the meeting open, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Education, Science and Culture, Hamidou Boly, urged the participants to ensure that a workable regional space strategy is developed as this would impact positively on the idea of a greater integration of West Africa.
He stated that the validation of the regional roadmap on space science and geomatics is essential as part of the framework of knowledge for the necessary solidarity and cooperation needed to facilitate the ECOWAS peace keeping efforts and the promotion of development in all areas, the statement said.
Chair of the session and head, Cadastral Mapping and Urban Space Applications of the Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Matthew Adepoju, noted that the basis of the meeting was also to harmonize the necessary data and make maximum use of the cooperation with space development partners.
He disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ECOWAS and NASRDA to “create the necessary awareness among all the partnering institutions and improve the life of the population in West Africa,” the statement added.
Contributing, the Head of Division, ECOWAS’ Department of Education, Science and Culture, Roland Kouakou gave explanations about the concept note and agenda of the meeting.
The statement stressed that the meeting also featured presentations on the ECOWAS strategy on space science, regional roadmap as well as the proposed projects for implementation.
“As conceived, the current effort is meant to drive the space policy framework already on hand and also push for its domestication.
“The validation meeting is part of efforts to facilitate the plan for the implementation of the ECOWAS Policy on Science and Technology (ECOPOST),” ECOWAS said.
