The ambition for Africa to become a formidable player in the global space race must be built on a foundation of "ground space conquest," reports ITREALMS.
Hosting a gathering of top-tier academics, defense officials, and space policy experts, the Department of Geography (UNILAG) and the African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI) gathered at the Afe Babalola Auditorium to honor the legacy of the late pioneer, Dr. Adigun Ade Abiodun.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, represented by the Dean of Social Sciences, Professor Adelaja Odukoya, opened the floor with a stark warning: humanity must not export Earth’s habits of inequality and environmental degradation into the cosmos.
In a keynote address that set the room abuzz, Dr. Ekuwem challenged the "superficial" pursuit of space dominance.
"Outer space conquest starts with ground space conquest," Ekuwem declared.
He argued that Africa’s reach for the stars will remain a dream unless the continent first masters its terrestrial systems, specifically through robust institutions, indigenous technology, and ethical governance.
He outlined four non-negotiable pillars for Africa's space survival: security, sustainability, equity, and peace.
The lecture echoed far beyond the walls of UNILAG with Dr. Driss El Hadani of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Agency, joined virtually to stress that Africa must transition from being a passive consumer of satellite data to an active architect of global space policy.
Earlier in the program, Mr. Etim Offiong, a prominent space scientist and Co-Founder of the African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI), outlined the institute's vision to drive African-led solutions. His remarks paved the way for Emeritus Professor Peter Olusegun Adeniyi, who described the lecture as a moral bridge connecting Dr. Abiodun’s pioneering remote sensing work to Africa’s future aspirations.
As the global space economy expands, the consensus from the 4th Adigun Ade Abiodun Lecture is clear: Africa’s ticket to the stars is written in the labs, policy rooms, and universities here on Earth.
In the context of this event, Etim Offiong is a highly respected Space Scientist and the Co-Founder of the African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI).
The lecture echoed far beyond the walls of UNILAG with Dr. Driss El Hadani of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Agency, joined virtually to stress that Africa must transition from being a passive consumer of satellite data to an active architect of global space policy.
Earlier in the program, Mr. Etim Offiong, a prominent space scientist and Co-Founder of the African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI), outlined the institute's vision to drive African-led solutions. His remarks paved the way for Emeritus Professor Peter Olusegun Adeniyi, who described the lecture as a moral bridge connecting Dr. Abiodun’s pioneering remote sensing work to Africa’s future aspirations.
As the global space economy expands, the consensus from the 4th Adigun Ade Abiodun Lecture is clear: Africa’s ticket to the stars is written in the labs, policy rooms, and universities here on Earth.
In the context of this event, Etim Offiong is a highly respected Space Scientist and the Co-Founder of the African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI).
He is a key figure in African space policy and has previously served with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). He is the bridge between the technical science of space and the policy needed to govern it.
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