At the opening of the African Space Economy Conference (ASEC) in Abuja on June 18, Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, called on African governments to unite in building a self-sustaining space economy.

The three-day summit is Africa’s largest platform for showcasing satellite-driven solutions to local development challenges.
The minister stressed the need for African countries to avoid “duplicating efforts” and instead work together on shared infrastructure, regional satellite constellations, and joint policies on orbital traffic and data governance. “No one country can do this alone. Africa must chart its own destiny in space,” he said during his keynote address.

The conference brought together over 300 delegates, including representatives from the African Union, the private sector, and youth-led space startups. Panels focused on the role of space data in fighting climate change, boosting agricultural productivity, and strengthening security.

Several Nigerian space companies, including NASRDA and Lunasat Africa, also showcased their latest innovations in nanosatellite technology and remote sensing tools. Many expressed optimism that the conference would lead to concrete partnerships and investment deals across the continent.

By hosting ASEC 2025, Nigeria is positioning itself as a central player in Africa’s emerging space economy—an economy expected to surpass $20 billion in value by 2030.