In what has been described as a remarkable scientific breakthrough, Anas Isah, the founder of ATIL Aerospace, on Sunday developed and delivered STRATON-X, Nigeria and West Africa?s first privately built indigenous rocket ? marking a historic milestone in the region?s aerospace innovation.

The project, which was conceived, designed, and executed within Nigeria, according to Isah, represented a new era of private-sector innovation in space and defence technology, adding that it stands as the first of its kind to emerge from an independent Nigerian initiative without foreign technical partnership.

Speaking on the historic achievement, Isah, in a chat with our correspondent on Sunday, expressed deep gratitude to God and called on the Nigerian government and relevant institutions to recognise and support the innovation.

?By God?s grace, I have achieved a historic breakthrough for Nigeria and West Africa through the STRATON-X project,? Isah said.

?This is the first private indigenous rocket ever built and tested in our region. I believe this is not just my success, but a national milestone that shows what Nigerians can achieve with vision, discipline, and commitment.?

He emphasised that STRATON-X demonstrates Nigeria?s capacity to develop homegrown aerospace technology that can serve both civilian and national security purposes.

?This project shows that we can build it here in Nigeria, for Nigeria,? Isah added.

?All we need now is national protection, official recognition, and the right support to scale this into a national asset.?

According to him, ?the project now requires federal backing, strategic grants, and institutional collaboration to transform it from a prototype into a full-fledged aerospace program that can contribute to national development, research, and defense technology.

?The mission has begun. Now, we scale,? he stressed, even as he maintained, ?Your voice, your advocacy, and your influence are crucial. Together, we can make Nigeria a leading hub for indigenous aerospace engineering.?

The call for support has been directed to the Presidency, the National Assembly, relevant federal ministries and agencies, as well as the academic and industrial stakeholders across the country.

Isah?s vision aligns with the broader drive to promote Made-in-Nigeria innovation and technological sovereignty.

The STRATON-X project has been trending across social media under the hashtags #MadeInGombe, #StratonX, #ATILAerospace, and #NigeriaFirst, attracting accolades from Nigerians who view it as a symbol of national pride and scientific advancement.

Our correspondent further reports that as Nigeria continues to seek solutions for energy, security, and technological independence, this breakthrough could serve as a catalyst for renewed investment in the country?s science and innovation ecosystem.

?This is not just a rocket,? Isah concluded. ?It?s a message that Nigeria is rising, and we can achieve great things when we believe in ourselves.? (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)

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