Home

THE NASRDA CENTRE FOR BASIC SPACE SCIENCE, NSUKKA

Image

 

 

 

 

Director’s Welcome Address

The Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS) is a major activity Centre of National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Abuja. It is charged with the responsibility of conducting fundamental research in Space Science as well as coordinating such research activities in our Universities and Research Institutes. As an Inter-University Research Institute, CBSS promotes the open use of facilities among researchers throughout the Country as well as encouraging international cooperation. Astronomy is the oldest and active science in which human beings are anxious to understand the origin and existence of man in the universe. One of the major problems of Nigeria and other African countries is their inability to participate and contribute to the global development of Space Science and Technology. It has just been recently realized that African countries are just consumers of space technology products resulting from fundamental discoveries by advanced countries. It was also realized that until recently government has never addressed this problem. Such research was carried out through individual efforts in some Universities without any coordination and serious funding. As a result, such fundamental projects were usually abandoned by researchers as a result of lack of funding. Even today it is still difficult for government to fund fundamental research adequately. To them, they would want to invest only on projects that have immediate economic benefits. Unfortunately, basic research in most cases do not appear to have obvious economic benefit. Discoveries occur by chance with numerous spin off and applications. Being able to convince the Nigerian policy makers on the importance of participating in fundamental research marks the beginning of African renaissance which has been non-existent. CBSS has sufficiently addressed this issue and made tremendous progress over the past f our years of its establishment. These achievements will be listed below and with increased funding, there is every hope that in few years time Nigeria’s new dream in Space Science will become a reality.

History

In 1993 Nigeria called on 9 experts in the field of space science to draw up a space policy. The Experts strongly recommended that Nigerian Government should create a Centre for Basic space science to coordinate space research activities in the Universities and Research Institutions in the country.

In 1999 a serious consideration was given to the establishment of space Agency, space policy and centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS). Eventually, the establishment of CBSS was implemented in 2001. University of Nigeria was chosen as a temporary site, with office located adjacent to UNN Internet Centre.



Mission

The primary mission of the Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS) is to initiate and foster the growth of Space Research in the country in a highly coordinated manner. This important effort can in turn be easily outfitted for the development of Science and Technology in Nigeria. The center will work closely with Educational Institutions and Research Institutes in the country, the Nigeria Telecommunication, Radio and Television Broadcasting Organization, Meteorological Stations, Centre for Remote Sensing, centre for Satellite Technology, as will as Agricultural Sector and Industrial Organizations in order to facilitate technological acquisition, growth and information. The Centre will pursue capacity building , initiate and coordinate research activities including international collaboration to harness technological know-how, so that our researchers will begin to assert authority and independence in carrying out activities.