Space engineers want synergy to develop space programmes

The Nigerian Institute of Space Engineers (NISE) on Monday called on stakeholders in the space industry to synergise for the harnessing of benefits of space programmes.

Dr George Okpanachi, the National Chairman of NISE, made the appeal during their virtual interactive workshop organised to commemorate the World Space Week.

The theme of the workshop was “Space is Impactful Together”.

Designed to raise awareness on the benefits of space to human development and more, World Space Week was celebrated on Oct. 4 to 10, while the theme of the year was ” Women in Space”.

Okpanachi stated that space had the capacity to create better lives for citizens, hence requires the collaboration of stakeholders in the sector.

Mrs Nwanneka Ibekwe, the Chief Engineer, Ground Segment, Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), said space programmes could be impactful in agriculture, education, boundary monitoring, mapping and communication, among others.

Ibekwe said that space application in those sectors could change the lives of citizens especially women.

“Statistics have shown that over 70 per cent of women engage in farming activities especially in rural areas and space technology can be applied to this area to ensure that there is food sufficiency.

“The girl-child have also been affected more in out-of-school children and it has limited their chances of education.

“We need to come together because if we must achieve the Sustainable Development Goals agenda of 2030, we need to deploy space technology to touch lives,” she said.

She observed that some women in the sector had built the capacity in the space industry, but needed the opportunity to join in the development of the society through space programmes.

Ibekwe added that Women In Aerospace Nigeria (WIAN), which she is the President, had developed a curriculum that could be used to teach space education in primary and secondary schools.

According to her, the group is engaging in school outreaches where they teach pupils and students on the impacts of space to humans.

She said that by encouraging them, they were exposing the girls to the chances of building careers in space technology through the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Ibekwe, however, urged women never to allow limitations stop their drive towards better self discovery and society.