DEPLOYING SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Prof.R.A. Boroffice, OON TABLE OF CONTENTS

Transcription

1 DEPLOYING SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Prof.R.A. Boroffice, OON TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Space as a Platform for Development Vision 2020 and Space Technology Space Technology and Development of Nigeria Influence of Space Technology in the Developmental of other Nations 3.3 Frame work for Space Technology Development The Policy Framework The Institutional Framework and the Mandates 3.4 Capacity Building Centre for Space Science and Tech Centre for Basic Space Scarce Access to Nigeria Tele Education Project 3.5 Developing the Infrastructure 3.6 Natural Geospatial Data Infrastructure 3.7 Impact of Nigerial Space Programme in Socio Economic Development Food Security 3.72 Resources Inventory and Management 3.8 Ecological and Dis Management Default Monitoring in Nigeria Flood Vulnerability Assessment. A Pilot Study of Shrur Dam Flood Disaster Vulnerability Mapping and Monitoring in Nigeria Development of RS & CNS Predictive Models for Defatificable Early Warming Gully Erosion Spatio Temporal Assessment of Climate Change and Human Induced. Impact on Ecosystem Degradation and Water Resources Management Unit Remote Sensing Technologies A Pilot Study of Kanji Lake Area of Nigeria Hydrologic Modelling of Katsina Ala River Basin in Nigeria. An Emerging Scenario from 3.9 Health Care Delivery

2 3.9.1 Remote Sensing and GIS in Vector Disean Studies e.g. Malaria Epidomiology Tele-Medicine 3.10 Infrastructural Facility and Urban Development Development of Medium Resolution (50m) Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of Nigeria Preparation of Abuja Map Mapping of Settlements and Major roads in Nigeria Development of Optimum Geodynamics and Geodetic Network for Nigeria 3.11 Information and Communication Technology Information Technology Executive Communication

3 DEPLOYING SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROF. R. A. BOROFFICE, OON 3.1 INTRODUCTION The vision of political leadership of any nation is assumed to be to achieve economic growth and appreciable development in order to enhance the quality of life of its people. The definition of development varies with schools of thought, nevertheless economic growth remains important in its potential contribution to development. The term economic growth has been defined as the increase of a specific measure such as real national income, gross domestic product or per capita income. Economic development on the other hand refers to improvements in a variety of indicators such as literacy rates, life expectancy and poverty rates. Development is a concept involving very basic choices and values which can be defined as a movement in the direction of achieving a set of developmental goals including reduction of poverty/ improved health and education and increased political and social reform. In summary the development of any nation is a state of evolution or transformation in terms of its growth and advancement where provisions are made for the essential or basic amenities of life such as clean water, food, shelter, energy, education, health and wholesome environment in order to completely eradicate ignorance, unemployment, poverty and disease and also increase life expectancy. The desire of a nation is to be able to maintain or sustain the state of being developed with all its indices over time and from one generation to another. In a broad sense development encompasses three major areas. (i) Policies that government formulate to achieve broad economic objectives such as price stability, high employment, expanded tax base, and sustainable growth. (ii) (iii) Policies and programmes to provide infrastructure and services such as highways, parks, affordable housing, crime prevention and basic education, and adequate healthcare delivery. Policies and programmes that are directed at job creation and retention. In the past series of development plans have been formulated as the blueprint for our national development The second National Development Plan for example has is objectives as follows: (i) a united, strong and self reliant nation. (ii) a great and dynamic economy. (iii) a just and egalitarian society. (iv) a land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens; and (v) a free and democratic society. There is no doubt that these objectives have not been met despite the fact that several other development plans have been formulated since 1974.Some of the mechanisms put in place for achieving these objectives are:

4 (i) the indigenization policy of the early 70s. (ii) the import substitution and backward integration strategies of the 80s; and (iii) the Structural Adjustment Programme of the 90s. These programmes did not achieve much success. In fact in some cases they worsened the economic situation of the country. In 1998, the then Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar stated that "Every human welfare and development index measuring the well-being of our people is on the decline. Nigeria is classified among the poorest nations of the world. Yet we have all the human and natural resources that should make our nation one of the developed economies in the world". Nigeria has the largest and fifth largest proven reserves of oil and gas respectively in the world. The federal government's annual budgets are in trillions. In spite of all these Nigeria is yet to experience any significant development compared with other third world countries like/ India, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil and South Korea With the democratic Administration in place in 1999, the direction of our development was redefined and the need to articulate a shared vision of what we desire as a nation became imperative. Consequently the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategies (NEEDS) was put in place to be the key driver of our developmental efforts. NEEDS is an economic development blueprint that has been a driver of reforms in the public and the private sectors. The reforms in telecommunication industry, banking and other financial sector and the pension scheme are a few examples. Because of it inadequacy, the NEEDS document is currently under review to produce NEEDS II which will serve as our development policy blueprint for the next few years. The aim would be to accelerate economic growth, engender enhanced public sector efficiency as well as address the challenges of human capital development, poverty reduction and regional development especially in the Niger Delta. The present Administration under President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua has tasked itself with the articulation of policy priorities that will strengthen the reforms and build the economy, so that the gains of the reforms are felt widely by citizens across our nation. This has been termed the 7-point Agenda. The priority policies, hinged on reforms derived from President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua inaugural address are: 1. Sustainable growth in the real sector of the economy. 2. Physical infrastructure, power, energy and transportation. 3. Agriculture. 4. Human Capital Development, Education and Health. 5. Security, Law and Order. 6. Combating corruption. 7. Niger Delta Development. How each priority policy will be achieved and the specific time frames has been articulated in a comprehensive manner in the Nigeria Project Agenda. The vision of the Nigeria Project Agenda is "To develop a united and secure society underpinned by strong democratic principles and a modern and industrialized economy, which is fair, just and especially socially inclusive, environmentally responsible and a key player in the regional and global economy". The key objectives are:

5 1. Consolidate and deepen the economic reforms to impact the lives of all Nigerians. 2. Address the current development challenges facing the nation. 3. Make significant progress towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. 4. Propel Nigeria into one of the 20 largest economies in the world by Run a responsible/ accountable and transparent government. 6. Reform and strengthen democratic and political process.