An NGO, TAC AFRICA is currently taking the lead in building capacity in the areas of Drone & Counter-drone.
The Executive Director/CEO of the organization, Dr. Jerry Akubo took the initiative to mark the Drone Safety Day on 29th April 2023, with members of the TAC Africa Community, relevant Stakeholders within the Civil Society Network & strategic partners.
In his keynote address, Dr Jerry Akubo highlighted five (5) focus areas of Drone Safety which include.
- Education: fostering greater public understanding about the use of drones, and how they are being used in the realm of educational impact.
- Economics: highlighting the economic importance of Drone usage which has significantly cut costs in areas of Infrastructural inspection like Powerlines, Railways, Bridges, and Towers, etc.
- Equity: Fostering democratization of aviation and increasing the accessibility of aviation through Drone usage.
- Environment: Fostering greater public understanding of the Environmental and sustainability benefits of Drone Technology as an eco-friendly aircraft.
- Emergencies: highlighting how drones are utilized during emergencies such as Natural Disasters, Search and Rescue Operations, Firefighting, and Public Safety.
At the Interactive Session With relevant Stakeholders from the Civil Society Network which includes: the CEO of Daddy’s House Foundation Bar. Charles Okenwa, The CEO of Zero Corruption Communication Network Of Nigeria Mr Mamood Suleiman, The CEO of E-TELL Mr Kind Akubo, The CEO of Othniel Educational Consults Mr Simon Odoma, The CEO of Drones 9ja Ltd Mr Joel Dove Jonathan, deliberated objectively on their concerns towards ensuring the compliance and safety of Drone operations towards education, legal, environment, regulatory violations, security, economy, etc.
At the end of the Interactive Session, a 5-point point Communique was reached thus: –
- Bringing on board the current drone partners & other interested drone community to form a coalition which will be called the “Drone Safety Initiative”.;
- The coalition will work with partners to further the humanitarian opportunity currently undertaken by TAC to provide Free Drone training to 450 students in FCT Secondary Schools – as a Pilot Project.
- The Coalition will Recommend to the National Assembly House Committee Chairman on Aviation, for amendment of the Aviation Act to Include Drone Safety Regulations in the existing act & also officially declare a day for enlightenment in the areas of these emerging technologies.
- The Coalition will focus on establishing Drone Technology Clubs in Schools to advance career opportunities in aerospace engineering and aeronautics.
- The coalition will extend partnerships with Stakeholders to involve Drone Technology in environmental planning and design, which will be instrumental to deter crime when used as surveillance.
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