Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with relevant government agencies and private institutions as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth and promote sustainable development in the state.
The governor pledged on Thursday while receiving the management team of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital. He said strategic collaboration with credible institutions would enable Ondo State to harness innovation, technology, and investment opportunities critical to long-term development.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Olayide Adelami, Aiyedatiwa stressed the importance of science and technology as key drivers of modern governance, productivity, and economic competitiveness. He noted that states that fail to embrace technological advancement risk being left behind in an increasingly digital and knowledge-driven global economy.
“Science and technology remain central to modern governance and economic advancement,” the governor said. “As a government, we are open and willing to collaborate with credible institutions such as NASRDA to unlock new opportunities for development in Ondo State.”
Aiyedatiwa commended NASRDA for its contributions to national development, particularly in the application of space technology to governance, research, environmental monitoring, and resource management. He assured the agency of the Ondo State Government’s readiness to explore mutually beneficial areas of partnership to support efficient service delivery and the sustainable use of the state’s resources.
Earlier, the Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Mathew Adepoju, explained that the agency’s delegation was in Ondo State to engage with the management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), on fine-tuning plans for the integration of the proposed Federal University of Aerospace and Aeronautics, Oka-Akoko, with FUTA.
According to Adepoju, the visit was also aimed at strengthening collaboration with the state government in deploying space-based technologies for development planning, land administration, and environmental management. He urged the Ondo State Government to consider NASRDA’s proposals to leverage space technology to enhance governance, improve decision-making, and optimise resource utilisation.
The NASRDA chief revealed that the agency is already working with several states and federal institutions across the country, deploying technology solutions that improve governance and public service delivery. He cited the Imo Geographic Information System (GIS) Centre as one of NASRDA’s successful projects, noting that the centre was developed from scratch to improve land administration in Imo State.
“While many states have some form of GIS centres, very few are properly set up and technically enabled to deliver the level of service such infrastructure should provide,” Adepoju said.
He also disclosed that NASRDA recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to integrate space technology into the fight against financial crimes, including the tracking of movable and immovable assets.
Observers say a partnership between Ondo State and NASRDA could position the state to benefit from advanced technological solutions in agriculture, urban planning, security, and environmental sustainability, aligning with the administration’s broader development agenda.
