Abuja – No fewer than 500
students of public and private
schools across the country on
Sunday observed the partial solar
eclipse at the National Space
Research and Development Agency
(NASRDA), Abuja.
A solar eclipse is an astronomical
event that occurs when the moon
passes between the sun and the
earth and partially blocked the sun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that the solar eclipse
started in Abuja at exactly 1. 03
p.m. as predicted by NASRDA.
NASRDA provided the students
and some Nigerians with
instruments, including Eclipse
shades to observe the eclipse.
The Supervising Minister for
Science and Technology, Mrs
Omobola Johnson, said the students
were invited to motivate them to
develop interest in the study
science and technology.
“We invited these students to
boost their interest in studying of
science and technology which is the
bedrock for industrialisation of any
nation.
“That is why we are using this
medium to encourage you to develop
interest in studying science and
technology, particularly astronomy
and space science,” Johnson said.
Johnson, represented by the
Permanent Secretary in the
ministry, Mrs Rabi Jimeta, said the
occurrence of the partial solar
eclipse revealed that space
technology was working in Nigeria.
Partial Solar Eclipse
She promised that government
would continue in its efforts at
ensuring the development of space
science in Nigeria.
The Director-General of NASRDA,
Prof. Seidu Mohammed, described
solar eclipse as a natural
phenomenon with no direct impact
on climate change.
He described as false insinuations
that occurrence of eclipse was an
indication that the world was
coming to an end.
“All that is happening is a natural
phenomenon and there is no
religious sentiment attached to it.
“This should help us to discourage
the mysteries attached to solar
eclipse by various religious bodies.
“From the scientific perspective,
it’s just a natural phenomenon.
“The signal from geo-stationary
satellites does not have effect on
any of the communication gadgets
like the GSM, aircraft and
businesses,” Mohammed said.
Some of the students, who spoke
with NAN, commended government
for the opportunity to observe it at
the centre, adding that it would
boost their interest in studying
science-related courses.
Mr Yat Japheth, a student of
Baptist High School, Kubwa, FCT,
said today was his first time of
observing solar eclipse with such
instruments provided by NASRDA.
Miss Peculiar Daniel, Scintillate Int’l
Model School, Lokoja, said the
opportunity would help her to know
more about the sun, the moon and
the earth.
Also, Mr Luru Adewumi, a teacher
at the Oak Height Schools, Lugbe,
Abuja, described it as an
opportunity that some of the
teachers never had when they were
in schools.
Adewumi said the opportunity would
not allow anybody to deceive the
students about strange
attachments to solar eclipse by
people.
Children in Abuja, today.
He said the experience would help
the students to understand the
practical aspects of science.
However, Mrs Akinwumi Arize, who
brought her five-year-old son to
observe the eclipse, said such
gesture would help children to know
how the galaxy and the universe
operate.
NASRDA had predicted that a
partial solar eclipse would occur in
Lagos at 12:30 p m.; Kano, 1.07 p. m.,
and Enugu, 1.04 p.m.
It also added that the entire
African continent would be
affected by the partial eclipse,
while some other parts of the world
would witness total eclipse.
The agency predicted that another
partial eclipse would occur in April
2014, March 2015 and September
2016. (NAN)
Vanguard

NASRDA? Jokers ...why den satellite nore pick Stella Oduah when she de arrange tif money buy BMW? #ewu ....wasting Nigeria's money since 2004

bigtt76: NASRDA? Jokers ...why den satellite nore pick Stella Oduah when she de arrange tif money buy BMW? #ewu ....wasting Nigeria's money since 2004

eediot post.

bigtt76: NASRDA? Jokers ...why den satellite nore pick Stella Oduah when she de arrange tif money buy BMW? #ewu ....wasting Nigeria's money since 2004

pls dont turn ds this thread to politics, ds is abt nature, science and technology.
@topic, eclispe 4 my area is a capital NO