The Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said the state would partner with relevant government agencies and private institutions to move the state forward.
He said the move was part of the efforts of his administration to accelerate economic growth and sustainable development in the state.
The governor stated this on Thursday while receiving the management team of the National Space Research and Development Agency at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital.
Represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, the governor emphasised the critical role of science and technology in driving innovation across key sectors of the economy.
He said, “Science and technology remains central to modern governance and economic advancement. As a government, we are open and willing to collaborate with credible institutions such as NASRDA to unlock new opportunities for development in Ondo State.”
He commended NASRDA for its contributions to national development, particularly in the deployment of space technology for governance, research and resource management, assuring the agency of the state government’s readiness to partner in mutually beneficial areas.
Earlier, in his introductory remarks, the Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Mathew Adepoju, explained that the team was in Ondo State to engage with the management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, on fine-tuning the integration of the proposed Federal University of Aerospace and Aeronautics, Oka-Akoko, with FUTA.
The NASRDA Director-General further urged the Ondo State Government to consider the agency’s proposals for collaboration in the application of space technology for sustainable development and efficient resource utilisation.
Revealing ongoing collaborations with other states and federal institutions across the country, Adepoju explained that NASRDA’s technologies were already enhancing governance and service delivery nationwide.
“We are in technical collaborations with many states across the country. Currently, we are running the Imo GIS Centre to improve land administration, which we developed for the Imo State Government from scratch.
“While many states have some form of GIS centres, very few are properly set up and technically enabled to deliver the level of service such infrastructure should provide.
“We recently signed a MoU with the EFCC to mainstream our space technology into the fight against financial crimes. We are tracking both movable and immovable assets for the commission.”
