13 African countries meet on space science & technology
In line with its mandate of building indigenous capacity in Space Science and Technology Application in Africa, the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English {ARCSSTE-E} focuses on four [4] relevant areas which are of immense benefit to the region’s growth and development. These are: Remote Sensing /GIS, Satellite Meteorology and Global Climate, Satellite Communications and Basic Space and Atmospheric Sciences. The Course curriculumbeing utilised is approved under the United Nations Programme in Space Application {UN-PSA}. The Programme is run in a Modular form.
The 5th meeting of the Governing Board of the African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English was held on 22nd March, 2012 at the Rockview Hotel Royale, Abuja, Nigeria. Thirteen (13) member Countries namely; Sierra Leone, Egypt, Namibia, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Uganda, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria and the representative of the United Nations Expert on Space Applications, office for Outer Space Affairs, Vienna, Austria (UNOOSA) participated.
The meeting was chaired by the Director-General/Chief Executive of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA),Dr. J.O. Akinyedes, the supervising agency of the centre in Nigeria.
The centre and the Supervising Agency (NASRDA) were commended for their efforts in executing the United Nations mandate in capacity building of Space Science and Technology Education in four areas; namely, Remote Sensing/Geographical Information System, (RS/GIS), Satellite Communications, Satellite Meteorology and Global Climate and Basic Space and Atmospheric Sciences and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
The Ambassadors and High Commissioners of member countries resident in Nigeria were commended for facilitating the meeting through efforts made in establishing links with their home countries. Consequently, it was observed that such efforts have succeeded in mobilizing some level of participation of some permanent Governing Board Members. Furthermore, the meeting encouraged other member countries to make concerted effort to improve on their participation.
It was noted that the nine months postgraduate training programme have made positive impact in some member countries where grandaunts have c contributed their enhanced skills in some relevant application areas in SST to national development.
Members observed that the critical issues challenging the centre’s achievements still remain inadequate funding and commitment from member countries. Thus, members encouraged the management of the centre to further carry out visitations to member countries in other to mobilize participation and commitment from their respective governments.
By: Alusine M. Fofanah, Press Attaché, Abuja-Nigeria
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