Nigeria's space agency said it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), a company that specializes in delivering civilians to space.
The Nigerian Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, said sending a human into space was one of the main goals of the country's space program. The launch of the first Nigerian into space was initially expected in 2018.
The minister described the event as "momentous" and said it couldn't have come at a better time as a gift to the space agency, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Additionally, the minister congratulated Dr. Matthew Adepoju, the Director General of NASRDA, and his team and affirmed the wise choice of President Bola Tinubu in appointing him to lead the agency at such a pivotal moment.
“This collaboration, which is coming to the country, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of Space Exploration Journey and opens new opportunities for scientific research and technological advancement,” Adepoju was quoted as saying.
He further emphasized SERA's role in fostering collaboration and its mission to democratize space exploration for all nations as a noble goal. The Director General assured that NASRDA is committed to launching the first Nigerian and African astronauts into space through this partnership.
Sam Hutchinson, a co-founder of SERA, explained that the Human Space Flight Program with NASRDA is part of an effort to send six astronauts from nations that have never sent a human into space. He said that SERA wants to make space accessible to everyone, so anyone can become an astronaut.
Hutchinson mentioned that the Nigerian public will select a candidate through an "open and fair process" run by SERA. He added that Nigeria was selected because of its strong interest in space and its talent in science, engineering, and entrepreneurship.
In October 2023, the Nigerian Astronaut Program was announced, with criteria for the country's first astronaut. The first category A gives priority to NASRDA, the Defense Space Administration, and military personnel to participate in the project. Category B is for private sector candidates, and Category C is for research institutions and academic candidates.
"These criteria will be used for the selection of astronauts (pilot specialists, payload specialists, and mission specialists) and their integration into training to prepare them to efficiently undertake space flight missions," the program announcement read.