NigComSat to host 2026 Satellite Week, marks 20 years of space economy
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited has finalised arrangements to host the second edition of the Nigerian Satellite Week (NSATWK 2026), an event aimed at highlighting two decades of growth in
- From Blessing Olaifa, Abuja
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited has finalised arrangements to host the second edition of the Nigerian Satellite Week (NSATWK 2026), an event aimed at highlighting two decades of growth in the space economy.
The agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Stephen Kwande, said the programme is scheduled to hold from March 30 to 31, 2026, in Abuja.
Kwande noted that the event is expected to draw key stakeholders, including cabinet ministers, defence officials, development finance institutions, satellite operators, and deep-technology startups from across Africa.
In a statement, he said the gathering would provide a platform for discussions on satellite and digital infrastructure, with a focus on shaping policy, fostering commercial partnerships, and supporting the next generation of space technology entrepreneurs and investors.
He added that the timing of NSATWK 2026 reflects the growing strategic importance of the global satellite industry, noting that sovereign space capability has become closely tied to national economic competitiveness.
"Incorporated in 2006, NigComSat has grown from a single-satellite operator into a multi-service provider delivering connectivity, broadcasting, and broadband services across Nigeria and the wider continent, and the organization’s trajectory over the past two years reflects that ambition in action.
"Revenue has doubled, a landmark Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity partnership has been secured with Eutelsat, a strategic cooperation initiated with the Kenya Space Agency, and Managing Director Jane Egerton-Idehen now serves as Vice Chair of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), placing Nigeria at the table where international satellite policy and spectrum governance are actively shaped," Kwande said.
He quoted the Managing Director/CEO of NigComSat, Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen, as saying, "Twenty years ago, Nigeria made a sovereign decision to own its place in space.
"What we are marking this week is not simply longevity; it is the compounding return on that decision. This is where we bring that work into full view and define what the next twenty years will demand of us".
He further said the programme was designed to reflect the full breadth of Nigeria's satellite ecosystem.
Kwande said, "The Startup Demo Day places selected African deep-technology ventures, working across satellite applications, agriculture, logistics, health, and connectivity, before industry leaders, development finance institutions, and strategic investors.
"The Stakeholders Forum convenes senior government and industry representatives for substantive dialogue on the regulatory, infrastructure, and investment conditions required to unlock Nigeria's satellite economy at scale.
"The event concludes with a Gala Night recognizing the institutions, policymakers, and individuals who have brought Nigeria to this point."
