SGAC is happy to announce the winner of the first Ade Abiodun African Space Scholarship Award, Etim Offiong of Nigeria. The prize for this special scholarship includes a fully-paid trip to:

* the African Leadership Conference (ALC), “Space for Sustainable Development” (Sep. 26-28) in Mombasa, Kenya

* SGAC’s Space Generation Congress (Sep. 29-Oct. 1) to help lead a the Outreach working group on “Space for Developing Regions: The African Case Study”

* IAF’s International Astronautical Congress (IAC) (Oct. 3-7) to participate in the heads of African space agencies panel on the opening day

As the winner, Etim will also play an important role in acting as a rapporteur to collect the ideas from the ALC and SGC to support the crafting of an African space declaration which will be presented on the opening day of the IAC.

In commemoration of the first SGC and IAC in Africa, SGAC offered this special Ade Abiodun African Space Scholarship Award. The scholarship application challenged African university students and young professionals on the continent on to come up with plans for dedicating their career to the advancement of space science and technology in Africa. The applicants were also selected on their dedication already to the development of the space sector in Africa. The applications were very future looking and are a testimony of the potential of African young minds in the space sector. It was an enlightening collection of plans and insights. SGAC would like to extend our congratulations to the continents’applicants and their impressive effort. For Etim’s essay, please click here.

This year’s special winner, Etim Offiong, SGAC’s National Point of Contact for Nigeria. Etim is currently the Scientific Officer at the African Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. ARCSSTE-E is one of the regional centers established by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA), for indigenous capacity building in space science, technology and applications in developing countries. At ARCSSTE-E, he is in the research group developing a multi-stage water-rocket and Cansat using locally-sourced materials. He is also involved in space education and outreach/awareness programs in Nigeria. Etim’s areas of interest are in systems engineering, policy development and technology management. He obtained his bachelors degree in Electronic/Electrical Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. In 2010, he participated in the Space Studies Program at the International Space University, where he worked in the Asteroid Mining team project. He is currently writing his diploma thesis on space education policy.

“Etim is one of SGAC’s strongest volunteers,” said Ariane Cornell, SGAC Executive Director. “In addition to being reliable, he is passionate and dedicated to developing Africa’s space capabilities. He is very deserving of this award.”

“I feel honoured and privileged to be given this award. I feel humble and excited, when I consider that this is the third consecutive time for me to receive an award which would enable me to participate in SGC and IAC (the first two were given by IAF)”, said Etim commenting on his achievement. “I would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Abiodun and SGAC for this opportunity. SGAC has being a great impact on my academics and career. You guys should expect nothing but the best at Cape Town!”

The scholarship is named after Ade Abiodun. Dr. Abiodun is a pioneer in the African space sector, a leader in the international space community, and a valued member of the SGAC Advisory Board (for more information on Dr. Abiodun please see below). He has done much to support and represent Africa globally in its space development. He is an inspiration to the African space sector and particularly to the next generation of space leaders in Africa.

About Adigun Ade Abiodun

Dr. Adigun Ade Abiodun received his undergraduate and graduate education from the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science (1965), Master of Science (1966) and his Ph.D. (1971) in Civil Engineering (Hydraulics and Hydrology). His academic and professional experience included his services as (i) Civil and hydraulic engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle (1966-68), (ii) Hydraulics systems research engineer with the Boeing Company, Seattle, USA (1968-71), (iii) Lecturer and Senior at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 1971-77; (iv) Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of the National Research Council of Canada, tenable at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (Dec. 1974- Feb. 1976); and (v) Remote Sensing Specialist (1977-1981) and later as the United Nations Expert on Space Applications, (1977-1999). He was appointed United Nations Expert on Space Applications in November 1981 and served in that position until September 1999 when he retired from the services of the United Nations. In this capacity, he initiated, designed, implemented and supervised, globally, the United Nations Space Applications Programmed, including the establishment of the Un-Affiliated Regional Centres on Space Science and Technology Education. He is a contributor to five books and the author of over 68 scientific and technical publications.

Thereafter, Ade Abiodun also served/(is serving) as (i) Senior Special Assistant to the President (of Nigeria) on Space Science and Technology.(March 2000 -June 2003); (ii) Member of the College of Commissioner of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission-re Iraq (UNMOVIC), 2000-2007; (iii) Chairman, Board of Directors, Spaceweek International Association (Oct. 2001- Oct. 2004); (iv) Chairman, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), June 2004 – June 2006; (v) One of 20 global panelists that explored, in Feb. 2006, ‘Space and Humans in the Next 1,000 Years’ for the “Foundation for the Future,” Bellevue, State of Washington, USA; (vi) Member of the Association of Space Explorers’ Panel on the Mitigation of Asteroids Impact (2007-2008); (viii) Trustee, The ISPRS Foundation, and (ix) Founder, African Space Foundation.