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Ukraine to sign MOU with Nigeria on space technology

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria, Dr Valeri Aleksandra, says Ukraine has concluded plans to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government of Nigeria on Space Technology.
Valeri Aleksandra

Valeri Aleksandra

The Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria, Dr Valeri Aleksandra, says Ukraine has concluded plans to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Government of Nigeria on Space Technology.

Aleksandra made this known when he paid a courtesy call on Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology in Abuja on Friday.

He said that such agreement would further strengthen the collaboration of the two countries in the area of science and technology.

According to the ambassador, Ukraine has advanced in space technology which will be of great benefits to Nigeria.

He said that many Nigerians went to Ukraine universities to graduate in Science and Technology.

According to him, Ukraine has its historical origins in the 18th and 19th centuries and is associated, first of all, with the Kyiv Mohyla Academy, University of Kyiv and University of Kharkiv.

“ The founding of Ukraine’s main research institution, the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in 1918 by Volodymyr Vernadsky marked an important milestone in the country’s subsequent scientific and technological development.

“Ukraine’s space science advanced rapidly in the aftermath of World War II, with Korolyov, Glushko and Chelomey leading the rocket and spaceflight development in the Soviet Union during the Space Race.’’

In his remarks, Onu said that agreement between the two countries would be of great advantages to Nigeria because science and technology was one area of Ukraine strength.

“It is a future arrangement; they want our space agency to have a very close relationship with theirs. Nothing has been established as of now.

“If you look at the Ukraine history and its achievements, it has some advanced technology in certain areas.

“We are also proposing a MOU between our own ministry and their own ministry, because science and technology is one area of Ukraine strength.

“We will be happy to work with Ukraine at the areas we will learn from the country and also the areas it will learn from us, “he said.

Onu said that such future collaboration would deepen effort of Nigerian to diversify its economy in a sustainable manner by making it knowledge based and innovation driving.

According to him, there is no way one can talk about globalisation without talking about technology, as it is the main factor that is driving all the advances in the world.

He said that government would intensify effort to involve more private sectors in order to develop in a sustainable manner.

“The private sector is in the best position to commercialise research funding to create wealth, job, reduce perversity and improve productivity.

“These are the visions of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and we are working to ensure the vision is fully actualised, “ he said.

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