Kenya and Nigeria have stepped up bilateral cooperation in space science and technology following a five-day visit by the Director General of the Kenya Space Agency, Brigadier Hillary Kipkosgey, and his delegation to Abuja.
The visit, which began on 22 September, included high-level meetings with the National Space Research and Development Agency of Nigeria.
Brigadier Kipkosgey was received by the agency’s director general, Dr Matthew Adepoju, for discussions on building a framework for collaboration and strengthening Africa’s presence in global space forums.
The two sides agreed to form a joint committee to develop a memorandum of understanding, align training programmes, and coordinate positions within African Union platforms.
The Kenyan delegation toured key facilities and extended an invitation to Nigeria to participate in the Kenya Space Expo in Nairobi in June 2026.
Senior officials from both agencies attended the meeting, which also focused on the application of space technology to security, forestry, mapping and sustainable development.
Alongside government talks, the delegation engaged with Nigerian start-ups, where presentations highlighted the role of innovation in advancing national development. Officials from both countries emphasised the need for intra-African collaboration and investment to nurture the next generation of space leaders.
The Kenya team also met with the Nigerian Communications Satellite company to explore cooperation in satellite communications, with the managing director Jane Egerton-Idehen pledging support for Kenyan projects.
A separate visit to the Defence Space Administration underscored the growing importance of military applications, with Air Vice Marshal LI Oluwatoyin hosting the delegation.
Brigadier Kipkosgey described Nigeria’s space sector as vibrant and said Kenya was committed to building long-term partnerships that strengthen Africa’s collective capacity in the space economy.
