President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr Mathew Adepoju as the new Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
A statement by the Director, Media and Corporate Communications of the Agency, Dr Felix Ale said the new Director General was until his appointment the Director of Strategic Space Application of the Space Agency.
Dr Adepoju succeeds Dr Halilu Ahmad Shaba the immediate outgone Director-General of NASRDA, following an almost three-year stint by as the CEO of the agency between 2021 and May 2024.
Dr Adepoju who was former President of the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (GEOSON) holds an impressive academic background with PhD in Geographical Information Science (GIS).
Dr Mathew Olumide Adepoju’s journey at NASRDA spans an impressive 15 years, during which he held various key positions. He started as the Chief Research Officer (2009 to 2013), then took on the role of Head of Cadastral Mapping and Urban Space Applications (2009-2014), and later served as Deputy Director (2014-2022).
His dedication and expertise led him to be appointed as the Acting Director (2021-2023) and eventually the Director (2021-2024). His leadership was not limited to NASRDA, as he also served as the President of the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria from 2017 to 2022.
Adepoju is a space scientist with over 20 research publications. His multidisciplinary research includes urban and regional planning, geographic information science, remote sensing, environment, disasters, climate change, crime, and criminality.
Dr Matthew Adepoju who has several research publications, earning recognition both nationally and internationally. His research has been utilised to implement various successful projects that harness space technologies by various organisations, including NASRDA, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations – Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN-FAO), World Bank, United Nations – United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) among other notable organisations.
Adepoju’s academic journey is equally impressive. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PgD) in City and Urban, Community and Regional Planning from the University of Lagos State, Nigeria. He furthered his studies with a Master of Science (M.sc) in Geographic Information Science from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Geographic Information Science from the University of Leicester, UK. His academic achievements are a testament to his dedication and passion for his field.
His appointment takes immediate effect.