Top officials from the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), led by Miss Liu Lan, visited the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, NIGCOMSAT Ltd recently in Abuja following the appointment of its new Chief executive by the the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, CGFR.
Nkechi Egerton-Idehen was appointed the new CEO of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Company (NIGCOMSAT). The CGWIC team met with the new Managing Director and chief executive officer of the satellite communication company.
Nigeria has worked closely with the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) through China Export/Import Bank to actualise it’s Communications Satellite projects. Nigeria went to space to provide a communications satellite covering the whole of Africa and parts of Europe and Asia.
NigComSat-1R spacecraft was built on Dong Fang Hong 4 (DFH-4) satellite bus, developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and launched by LM-3B launch vehicle, developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle (CALT).
In addition, the China Satellite Launch Tracking and Control General (CLTC) provided tracking, control and ground segment support for the programme.
The NigComSat-1R was the eight satellite built on the DFH-4 bus for in-orbit delivery and the NigComSat-1R launch was the 18th flight of LM-3B launch vehicle and the 154th flight in the series of the Long March launchers. “The project was carried out in conjunction with over 50 Nigcomsat engineers who spent nearly 31 months in China.”
The satellite with service lifespan of over 15 years was designed to meet the needs of telecommunications, maritime, defence and broadcast media in Africa, particularly Nigeria and part of Europe and Asia. It has 28 active transponders, and quad band of Ku, ka, C-Band and L-band.
The two ground stations located in Abuja, and Kashi, China, owned by Nigcomsat, participated fully in the launch. A visibly excited managing director of Nigcomsat Limited, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, simply said, “This is mission fulfilled.”
Top government officials including then communications technology minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, her science and technology counterpart Prof Okon Ewa Bassey, chairman of Senate Committee on Communication Gilbert Nnaji, House of Representatives members, Nigcomsat 1R project director and executive director, marketing, Abimbola Alale, and chief executive of LASACO Insurance Plc, Mr. Sola Ladipo-Ajayi, witnessed the launch.
Established in 1980, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) is the sole commercial organization authorized by the Chinese government to provide commercial launch services, satellite systems and to carry out space technology cooperation. It is a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
As the professional company promoting international cooperation, CGWIC is devoted to the internationalized development of China’s space industry. CGWIC has developed into a system integrator for space products and comprehensive services. It can meet customers’multi-directional needs by providing various solutions for international launch services, communications satellite & earth observation satellite in-orbit delivery, aerospace infrastructure construction, component products, international space cooperation and commercial services, etc. CGWIC enjoys an excellent reputation in the international and domestic aerospace industry, the financial community and the insurance circle.