Nigeria and Brazil To Collaborate on Space Science and Technology With Strategic MoU
On 25 August 2025, during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s visit to Brazil, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, and Luciana Santos, Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation. The signing, witnessed by President Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, represents a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in space technology, science, and research.
Highlighting the importance of the agreement, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji stated,
“The MoU represents a shared vision. Space technology offers Africa and Latin America a powerful tool to leapfrog into the future economy.”
On the Brazilian side, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described the strategic partnership as :“a bridge of innovation and solidarity between two nations of the Global South.”
Strengthening Resilience Through Innovation
This cutting edge partnership involves joint ventures in climate monitoring, national security, collaboration on space vehicles, capacity building, and technology transfer. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) will be deployed to support forest conservation in the Amazon and the Nigeria-Cameroon basins, while Earth observation systems will be utilised to enhance resilience against natural disasters and food crises, ultimately promoting inclusive growth and prosperity.
These initiatives closely reflect Nigeria’s national development priorities, particularly the Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting the country’s commitment to leveraging space technology for innovation and growth. Stressing the significance of this innovative collaboration, Chief Nnaji emphasized the strong alignment between this partnership and the Renewed Hope Agenda. Within this framework, in May, Dr Matthew Adepoju, Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), announced that Nigeria plans to launch four satellites, three carrying optical payloads and one equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
Nnaji affirmed in this context : “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is committed to building an ecosystem of innovation, leveraging satellites, rocketry, and data analytics to drive inclusive growth and prosperity.”
Moreover, stakeholders highlighted that the agreement has the potential to unlock new opportunities for researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and youth in both countries, while making a substantial contribution to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Expanding Bilateral Ties Beyond Space
Notably, this initiative seeks to strengthen relations between Nigeria and Brazil beyond the realm of space, across multiple sectors. This MoU forms part of a broader framework covering research in biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, energy, space development, digital transformation, and new materials. It is one of five MoUs signed between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, including agreements on training diplomats, establishing regular political consultations, new Air services deal set to boost commerce and people-to-people link, and a collaboration between the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social/BNDES) and Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture to promote trade, development, and investment, reviving six-and-a-half decades of cooperation.