ABUJA – Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey, Thursday, said that Nigeria would by 2015 put its first set of astronauts to space.

He also said technology transfer agreements between Nigerian entrepreneurs and their technical partners abroad had saved Nigeria over N16 billion between May 2011 and March 2012.

The Minister, who spoke at the 2012 ministerial platform, one year score card, organized by Ministry of Information in Abuja, said training of the first set of astronauts to be sent to space would soon commence.

On savings from technology transfer agreements, the minister said: “The highest amount of

money that was saved was in September 2011 with over N5.3 billion followed by N3.8 billion and the lowest amount was N89.8 million in August 2011.

“Nigeria shall vigorously pursue the attainment of space capabilities as an essential tool for the socio-economic development and enhancement of the quality of life of its people.

“20 technologies are transferred on weekly basis through training for establishments of small medium enterprises.

These included, instant pounded yam flour, fruit juice production, cassava products (chips, adhesives, starch, flour), instant fufu flour, baking and confectioneries.”

He said the ministry signed eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), with private sector companies for use of technologies developed by parastatals of the ministry.

On leather technology, Prof. Ewa said there was a strong improvement of production of leather foot wear and products.

He called on the Ministries of Defence and Interior to patronise the ministry by buying their military boots and other accessories from it.

He noted that the ministry had already trained over 150 entrepreneur’s from Benue, Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto states, adding that these had created jobs for so many youths in that area.

He assured Nigerians that more youths would be trained on the making of leather foot wears.

He stressed the need for the Federal Government to invest more on technical technology which could create one million jobs in three years, while tomato paste industry could create 500,000 jobs in three years.

He said: “Utilization of coal for industrial chemicals production will create jobs and save foreign exchange.

“Municipal solid wastes, which are environmental hazards, is now being converted to wealth as well providing a cleaner environment. Liquid fuels from coal technology are a hitech area and Nigeria venturing into it is a necessary pre-condition in attaining vision 20:20:20. The skill we acquire will make us globally competitive.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/nigeria-to-send-astronauts-to-space-by-2015/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

RICHIE BOI: ABUJA – Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Okon Bassey, Thursday, said that Nigeria would by 2015 put its first set of astronauts to space.

What for?
For a Nation beset with so many infrastructural changes on the ground, could there really be a clearer case of misplaced priorities?

A very ambitious and tall dream

We don't need astronauts at this time.

To go do wetin? Which Nigerian Astronaut go gree enter china spacecraft, to go disappear forever in space like the former satellite?

Beaf: We don't need astronauts at this time.

Jonathan To Send Astronauts To Space By 2015
To assembly those Magic Numbers
www.nairaland.com/attachments/180447_ROTFLMAO_gif3d0c775232c7f27cf80592785b9635b6

"Some of the smartest dummies
Can’t read the language of Egyptian mummies
An’ a fly go a moon
And can’t find food for the starving tummies
Pay no mind to the youths
Cause it’s not like the future depends on it
But save the animals in the zoo
Cause the chimpanzee dem a make big money
This is how the media pillages
On the TV the picture is
Savages in villages
And the scientist still can’t explain the pyramids, huh
Evangelists making a living on the videos of ribs of the little kids" (Nas and Damian, 2010).

LOL. We are not even sure if the entity we know as Nigeria today will still be in existence by 2015. Especially not with the way things are going right now and all the bomb blasts taking innocent people's lives. GEJ should keep dreaming. Space ko, jupiter ni.