By IJEOMA OLORUNFEMI

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, says the forthcoming African Space Economy, Innovation and Communication Conference (ASEICC) 2026, will provide investment, networking and collaboration opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups.

Udeh said this in Abuja on Wednesday during a news conference ahead of the event scheduled to hold from Nov. 24 to Nov. 27, to be hosted by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

He said the conference would bring together industry players, startups, investors and experts to explore opportunities in Africa’s growing space economy.

The minister said the benefits would extend beyond companies directly involved in space technology, noting that the sector provided critical data and infrastructure for other industries, including telecommunications, agriculture, biotechnology and healthcare.

“Space technology acts as a foundation for other aspects of technology. Any industry player, startup or company interested in innovation, science and technology should have an interest in this conference,” he said.

Udeh said the conference would also expose participants to the economic opportunities in Africa’s space industry, valued at more than 25 billion dollars.

He urged Nigerian startups and companies to take advantage of the gathering to identify their areas of interest, establish partnerships and position themselves within the expanding industry.

According to him, the event will provide opportunities for participants to deepen existing collaborations, establish new business relationships and engage experts on industry-specific challenges.

The minister further said that investors from across the globe had been invited to the conference to assess innovative ideas and business ventures for possible investments.

“If you have ideas and innovations that you would want to invest in, especially as they relate to space technology and even beyond, there will be investors on hand to consider what you are presenting.

“Some of them will certainly invest in the ventures that companies and startups will represent,” he said.

Udeh said the conference was part of efforts to move Nigeria’s space industry beyond research and development to commercialisation and economic value creation.

He said the government was positioning the conference to attract global investors to research outputs, programmes and innovations emerging from Africa’s space ecosystem.

“We have gone beyond just doing research and research. As the name implies, it is not just research but also development.

“That is why we have invited a substantial number of investors across the globe to see the opportunities provided in the space economies of Africa and identify areas where they can invest,” he said.

The minister said the investments would create a mutually beneficial relationship, enabling investors to generate returns while supporting the expansion of Africa’s space economy.

He also cited Nigeria’s growing technology startup ecosystem, noting that six of the 10 unicorn companies in Africa were from Nigeria.

He described that as evidence of the country’s capacity to produce globally competitive technology companies and urged local startups to maximise the opportunities offered by ASEICC 2026. (NAN)