Hon. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji (5th left), Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador, Stefano De Leo (6th right) Deputy Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Lacopo Foti (4th left) Commercial Attache Embassy of Italy Mr. Andrea Perugini (4th right) Senior Technical Adviser, International Partnerships, Finance Monitoring and Evaluation to the Hon. Minister FMIST, Dr. Emeka Orjih (3rd left) Special Assistant, Technical to the Hon.Minister on Project Delivery, Engr. Dr. Patricks Oghuma (2nd left) Secretary, Minister’s Projects Delivery Team, Mrs. Joan John Okon (right) and others in a group photograph during the courtesy visit by the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria on the Hon. Minister in his office in Abuja

To venture into Space Technology, the Federal Government has indicated plans to collaborate with Italy to harness the transformation power of Space Development.

Minister, Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Nnaji said the partnership will facilitate move to address critical national challenges in the country.

The Minister stated this when the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Stefano De Leo paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Nnaji stated that one of the challenges currently faced by the country is flooding in some parts of the Northern States, adding that proper assessment from the Space Agency revealed that Loco-Dam in Cameroon has overflown.

He further clarified that the Ministry has taken advantage of Space Technology to enhance environmental protection and improve efficiency in Agriculture to prevent over flooding and Herders and Farmers clashes in the country.

He stressed that collaborating with the Italian Government at this critical period is apt so as to avert flooding as a result of climate change.

To this end, the Minister commended efforts being put in place by the countries of the world to ameliorate the effects of flooding and its attendant challenges faced by many countries

Chief Nnaji urged African countries to work together to harness the natural endowment in the continent.

Earlier, the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Stefano De Leo, said that the essence of their visit is to partner with Nigeria in Science and Technology through transformative power of Space Technology and development in order to advance the socio-economic development of the Country.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to take its leadership position in Africa by harnessing both human and natural resources towards advancing technologically, so as to compete amongst comity of nations.