Hon Abiodun Akinlade At The Signing of NigComSat1 in China in 2009

The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology said 31 March 2009 that proceeds from satellite communications could upturn proceeds from oil and gas if the country invested not only in the provision of satellite backbones but also in the entire spectrum of science and technology. Members of the Committee stated this in Beijing, China at the signing of a new agreement by Nigeria and China to replace NigComSat-1, Africa's only communication satellite which failed in orbit in November last year. The members were led by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade and his deputy, Mr. Ibrahim Khalid, a statement by the company on Monday said. According to the statement, under the new agreement, China will replace NigComSat-1 with NigComSat-1R at the cost of $157m to be borne solely by China. Akinlade said, "Nigeria started on satellite technology too late. Our coming to China has opened our eyes to see the great value satellite technology can add value to any country's economy. Besides generating many jobs, it helps in healthcare delivery through telemedicine, in electronic education, security surveillance, telecommunications services and many others." "We should give other aspects of national life a chance to thrive. That is our candid opinion to Nigeria and if we adopt satellite communication and promote same, we are most likely to derive more benefits from it than oil." Calling on government to increase the budgetary allocations on science and technology, he said the that current financial investment on science and technology was too meager and insufficient to generate the desired impact, noting that. "We came to China at the instance of the House of Representatives. Now we have seen and submit that if Nigeria is to be taken seriously, there should be adequate funding for Science and Technology," he added. www.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/?archive_id=0&page_id=6184921011&page_url=//cn.cgwic.com/NigComSat-1R/focus_2.html&page_last_updated=2012-04-14T03:58:11&firstName=Abiodun&lastName=Akinlade