The Nigerian Space Conundrum: 20 Years in Space

The Nigerian-built satellite, NigeriaSat-X's first satellite image, taken just three days after the successful launch on 17th August, 2011, revealing buildings and the landscape surrounding the city of Auckland, New Zealand. SSTL

20 years have passed since Nigeria opened its first space-related institution. Today, Nigerian space institutions strive to meet the objectives set out in a 28-year roadmap amid widespread scepticism and constrained funding. A cluster of satellite dishes sits in Misau Street, Garki at the heart of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. This ‘bank of satellites’, according to Tade Ipadeola, forms a part of Nigeria’s Earth station, which connects the five Nigerian satellites currently orbiting the

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