I belong to International Youth Space Organization known as Space Generation Congress the organization is recognised by UNOOSA(United Nation Office for Outer Space affiars).in 2005 I proposed in our forum that how I wished African countries too have their own space agency like National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA in America),European Space Agency (ESA) combination of sixteen member states which form an alliance on how to position the Europeans in Outer Space Exploration.Then , I was castigated for supporting my continent and for wanting the best for my continent as far as space EXPLORATION is concerned.

Furthermore, I was told that I was being biased but yet they failled to realize that each of these member state still have their own space agencies despite belonging to European Space Agency.

It is my joy today that Nigeria had taken A Giant step in being the first Country in the Continent to have launched a communication satellite(launched on the 13th of May 2007).

If we may asked ourselves why communication Satellite?In 2003 precisely September 27 in Russia Nigeria launched her first EOS also known as Earth Observing Satellite a constellation of satellites(network of satellites with Algeria,U.K,China and Turkey ) which can also be called Remote Sensing Satellite which are purposely built for scanning Nigerian and other parts of the world surface,that is taking the picture of the entire country and the country on the same network in oder for smooth monitoring of 1)Afforestation 2)Flood control 3)Deserts encroachment 4)Agriculture 5)Irrigational Purposes 6)Mineral Exploration

So with the advent of Nigeria Communication Satellite-1, the outflow of hard currency expecially in the payment of high tariff in bandwidth aquisition will be reduced to a minimal proportion.In the just concluded Computer Technology and Office equipment workshop and exhibition (C.T.O 2007)organized by the U.S Embassy in Nigeria,one of the invited guest(President of NITPA,Nigeria Information Technology Professional in America ) explained that the internet connectivity which he his using in his home in America cost $40 / $50 a month the say thing in Africa goes for $2700.

Again, it has been proved that the foreign Bandwidth provider are cheating Africa.So can we fold our arms and allow this cheating to continue while we have our own satellite with better services and affordable tarif.

Over $800,000,000 to $900,000,000 are being paid annually for bandwidth to foreign operators by Africans which inturn is not helping the development in Africa.With this Africa countries subscribe to Nigeria Communication Satellite can now pay in their own local currency.

To talk of communication itself,I was once told that because African lack facility,if I want to call Ghana from Nigeria the call will firstly be routed to Europe before coming to Ghana this inturn makes the tarif very very high?This means calls can now be almost free,paying little and talk more.

In conclusion when Yuri Gagarin a 27 years old Russian guy went into orbit ,till tomorow the whole world is stil celebrating the feat achieved by Yuri on 12 day of April every year.Again, when Neil Amstrong went into the moon as an America he was celebrated as the first man to have walked on the moon.Now Nigeria is leading the entire African into the exclusive world of Geo Synchronous(35,000 km above the earth surface) Orbits,the Orbits exclusively reserve for the who is who in space world.

Lastly, I will leave us with the words of Neil Amstong ,the first man to walk on the moon ''That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."Which means ONE SMALL STEP FOR NIGERIA,ONE GIANT LEAP FOR AFRICA.I believe Nigeria should be encouraged by all the countries in Africa in order to make this project a huge success.