Abuja – No fewer than 500 students of public and private
schools across the country on Sunday observed the
partial solar eclipse at the National Space Research and
Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja.
A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when
the moon passes between the sun and the earth and
partially blocked the sun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the solar
eclipse started in Abuja at exactly 1. 03 p.m. as predicted
by NASRDA.
NASRDA provided the students and some Nigerians with
instruments, including Eclipse shades to observe the
eclipse.
The Supervising Minister for Science and Technology, Mrs
Omobola Johnson, said the students were invited to
motivate them to develop interest in the study science
and technology.
“We invited these students to boost their interest in
studying of science and technology which is the bedrock
for industrialisation of any nation.
“That is why we are using this medium to encourage you
to develop interest in studying science and technology,
particularly astronomy and space science,” Johnson said.
Johnson, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the
ministry, Mrs Rabi Jimeta, said the occurrence of the
partial solar eclipse revealed that space technology was
working in Nigeria.
She promised that government would continue in its
efforts at ensuring the development of space science in
Nigeria.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed,
described solar eclipse as a natural phenomenon with no
direct impact on climate change.
He described as false insinuations that occurrence of
eclipse was an indication that the world was coming to an
end.
“All that is happening is a natural phenomenon and there
is no religious sentiment attached to it.
“This should help us to discourage the mysteries attached
to solar eclipse by various religious bodies.
“From the scientific perspective, it’s just a natural
phenomenon.
“The signal from geo-stationary satellites does not have
effect on any of the communication gadgets like the GSM,
aircraft and businesses,” Mohammed said.
Some of the students, who spoke with NAN, commended
government for the opportunity to observe it at the centre,
adding that it would boost their interest in studying
science-related courses.
Mr Yat Japheth, a student of Baptist High School, Kubwa,
FCT, said today was his first time of observing solar
eclipse with such instruments provided by NASRDA.
Miss Peculiar Daniel, Scintillate Int’l Model School,
Lokoja, said the opportunity would help her to know more
about the sun, the moon and the earth.
Also, Mr Luru Adewumi, a teacher at the Oak Height
Schools, Lugbe, Abuja, described it as an opportunity that
some of the teachers never had when they were in
schools.
Adewumi said the opportunity would not allow anybody to
deceive the students about strange attachments to solar
eclipse by the students.
He said the experience would help the students to
understand the practical aspects of science.
However, Mrs Akinwumi Arize, who brought her five-year-
old son to observe the eclipse, said such gesture would
help children to know how the galaxy and the universe
operate.
NASRDA had predicted that a partial solar eclipse would
occur in Lagos at 12:30 p m.; Kano, 1.07 p. m., and
Enugu, 1.04 p.m.
It also added that the entire African continent would be
affected by the partial eclipse, while some other parts of
the world would witness total eclipse.
The agency predicted that another partial eclipse would
occur in April 2014, March 2015 and September 2016.
(NAN)
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