Ibadan, 20 June 2024. – The Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) are partnering to send the first Nigerian into space. Under the partnership, SERA will reserve a seat on an upcoming Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital spaceflight for a Nigerian citizen as part of a broader SERA-led initiative, in partnership with Blue Origin, to send six individuals from historically underrepresented nations in space exploration.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s space exploration journey and opens new opportunities for scientific research and technological advancement. A Nigerian NGO, Learnspace Foundation, played a pivotal role in the partnership with the Foundation’s President, Dr. Anne Agi, successfully advocating for Nigeria’s selection as the African country for this historic mission.
At the signing, Dr. Agi emphasized that “Space has the power to inspire future generations and Learnspace believes that this mission serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for Nigerian youths, showing that even in challenging times, with global collaboration, great achievements are possible. We are therefore glad to play a part in this groundbreaking partnership.”
Joshua Skurla, Co-Founder of SERA also commented, “Until now, space has been an exclusive domain, with over 80% of all astronauts to date coming from just three countries. Nigeria has a rich history of scientific and technological innovation, and we have the honor to partner with NASRDA to extend this legacy into space and create new opportunities for Nigerian space explorers.”
Likewise, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, Director General/Chief Executive of NASRDA, commented: “It is a step towards the realization of our objective of putting a Person in space as stated in our National Space Policy and Program, and we are excited to work with SERA and Blue Origin to provide this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity “
