Silver Jubilee: UN regional centre trains 700 experts on space education
The UN’s African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (UN-ARCSSTEE) said it had trained over 700 participants from 19 English-speaking African countries in space science and technology education.
The Executive Director of UN-ARCSSTE-E, Prof. Babatunde Rabiu, said this on Monday while disclosing some of its activities to mark the centre’s 25 years anniversary to be held on July 24 in Abuja.
Rabiu said that over the years, the centre had made tremendous strides in the continent through indigenous capacity building.
With the expected theme as “Space Science and Technology in Africa”, the 7th symposium would be held in honour of Prof. Elisha Balogun.
Balogun,he said, was a founding member of the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics at Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife,Osun State and would be recognised for his contributions to the sector.
“This year’s symposium focuses on ARCSSTE-E’s role in building capacity, enlightenment drives, awareness creation through Space Science and Technology Education in Africa for sustainable national and regional development.
“It also considers the impact of its postgraduate programmes through which over 700 participants from 19 English-speaking Africans have been trained in different thematic areas of Space Science and Technology,” he said.
ARCSSTE-E is one of the regional centres created following the endorsement of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions 37/90 of December 10, 1982 and in its resolution 45/72 of December 11 1990.
The centre has the mandate to develop indigenous capacity in all areas of Space Science and Technology and its applications at the postgraduate levels.
It also sees to the education,creating of awareness, motivating and inspiring school children at all levels to develop interest in Space.
Rabiu, however, welcomed participation from all walks of life,while assuring that the centre remained committed towards deepening of spcae science and technology education in Africa.
