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UNGANA…
UNGANA in KiSwahili… meaning ‘gather’.
As the Africa Union (AU) has declared Swahili to be the first indigenous African Language as an official language of the AU, we intend that the African Space Community of Practice begin the process of indigenizing where possible with names and terms that reflect African intention to be present at the emergence of space economy in keeping with its past as the cradle of humanity.
ABOUT SPACE UNGANA
JULY 19-26, 2025
OUR MISSION
The goal of the Omni Africa Space Research Education and Training Ungana (SPACE UNGANA) is to explore opportunities and challenges in the space industry ecosystem and identify strategies for building capacity to advance the African Space Agenda and Africa Union (AU) 2063 in particular.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Space Ungana 2025 is an international gathering of academics, advocates, policy makers, technocrats, and industry experts interested in advancing space research, education and training investments in the emerging space markets of Africa.
ABOUT SPACE UNGANA
JULY 19-26, 2025
A Gathering of Space Advocates and Enthusiasts Committed to advancing Space for All.
FUTURES FORUM +
DESIGN DOJO + SITE VISITS
(JULY 19-20) The Gathering begins with Public Opening Event on Saturday July 19, and Sunday, July 20 – International Moon Day in ABUJA. Outreach and celebratory activities open to the general public to be held at various venues in Abuja (TBC).
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(JULY 21-23) The Futures Forum will feature selected keynotes, interactive sessions, panel discussions, research proposals and unique networking opportunities.
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(JULY 24 -26) The 2-day Design Ideafest will include a Design Dojo for the pan-African cubesat constellation (AFCONSAT) and SPACE DUNIA; and a Hackathon for OASEAS, which will be Closed on Saturday.
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(JULY 27 -30) OPTIONAL SITE VISITS The Site Visits to explore possible cave site for an OASEAS Research Center in Nigeria. Options include e.g. 1) Eggon Hills & Caves, Nasarawa State 2) Usi Kwo Kwo Kwo Caves (Koton-Karfe), Kogi State 3) Marshall Caves, Bauchi State. Cultural tours will be included with Debriefing / Closing on JULY 30th.
AGENDA (JULY 19-26)
OASEAS RESEARCH, EDUCATION & TRAINING
ARRIVAL IN ABUJA + INTERNATIONAL MOON DAY CELEBRATIONS
Sat, 19 Jul
ABUJA
INTERNATIONAL MOON DAY CELEBRATION AND OPENING CELEBRATION
Sun, 20 Jul
ABUJA
FUTURES FORUM @ COSMOPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Mon, 21 Jul
ABUJA
FUTURES FORUM @ COSMOPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Tue, 22 Jul
ABUJA
FUTURES FORUM @ COSMOPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Wed, 23 Jul
ABUJA
JULY 19-30
FUTURES FORUM
WHAT? Forum on Opportunities & Challenges for Space Education, Research and Development in Africa
CALL FOR PRESENTERS
Do you want to be a presenter? Or Organize a Panel or Mini-Workshop at the SPACE UNGANA Futures Forum? We have speaking opportunities for the FUTURES FORUM, AFCONSAT (Design DOJO) online and DESIGN IDEAFEST & HACKATHON online.
FORUM THEMES
Building Foundational Capacity
Space for the SDGs
Space Settlement
Space Tourism
Space Traffic Management
PARTICIPATION FEES
​Academic/NGO $200 and up
Industry $350
Student $50
Virtual Participation $25
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AGENDA (JULY 24-30)
DESIGN DOJO & SITE VISITS
DESIGN DOJO
Thu, 24 Jul
ABUJA
DESIGN DOJO
Fri, 25 Jul
ABUJA
HACKATHON PUBLIC EVENT / CLOSING EVENT
Sat, 26 Jul
ABUJA
VISIT TO POSSIBLE RESEARCH SITE & CULTURAL TOURS
Sun-Mon, 27/28 Jul
ABUJA
RETURN TO ABUJA, DEBRIEFING MEETING with NASRDA
Tue, 29 Jul
ABUJA
DEPARTURE FROM ABUJA (FLY BACK) / USA
Wed, 30 Jul
ABUJA
JULY 24-30
DESIGN DOJO & SITE VISITS
OUR SPEAKERS
DR. CLAIRE A.NELSON
Founder & Chair
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CHE BOLDEN
CEO,
InterAstra​​​​
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DR. SRIMATHY KESAN
Founder & CEO, Space Kidz India
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Dr GABRIELLE CASWELL
Founder, Space Port Australia
ELDRIGE DE MELO
Co-Founder - SHARPNAV
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​Dr. TASLIM ALADE
Senior Lecturer at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University
Dr WILLIAM EDMONSON
Founder, Sadaina LLC & MaxIQ.Space
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JUDI SANDROCK
MAXIQ SPACE
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ETIM OFFIONG
Co-founder
African Space Leadership Institute (ASLI )
MUSTAPHA IDERAWUMI
Senior Analyst, Space in Africa
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ALMA OKPALEFE
Executive Director
World Space Week Association (WSWA)
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MS KEISHA SCHAHAFF
Ambassador
Caribbean Space Association
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DR. PRIYANKA DHOPADE
Senior Lecturer and Researcher
University of Auckland - New Zealand
REI KAWASHIMA
Secretary General, UNISEC- Global
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DR. MAXIMILIEN BERTHET
Assistant Professor, University of Tokyo
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ARISTIDES B. MUHATE
MRV Coordinator, Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento Sustentável
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DR. FUNMILOLA OLUWAFEMI
Chief Scientific Officer
National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)
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DR. LASISI SALAMI LAWAL
Associate Professor
Usmanu Danfodiyo University
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NAZIFA BAUKA
Geospatial Data Analyst, National Space Research and
Development Agency (NASRDA)
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PETER KRISTOFF
BTS Space
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PETER KRISTOFF
BTS Space
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AKOSAH SARPONG
Universty of Pécs
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CARLA MUTTONI
Spring Up Technology​​
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DR. CARL SCHNEIDER
University of Luxembourg
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DR MUHAMMAD SHARIF
ICESCO
PROF. BABATUNDE RABIU
National Space Research and Development Agency
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​ERNEST TEYE MATEY
All Nations University
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AMA SERWAA YEBOAH
Galaxy Aerospace
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​DR. ESSIET EWANG
UNISEC-Nigeria
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PROF. MUGENDI
Machakos University
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HUGH MORTIMER
Harwell Innovation Hub
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​ENGR. DR. SEYI FESTUS OLAYTOYINBO
Head, ARTCSEE
PALOMA MOHAMED
University of Guyana​
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PROF. ABUBAKAR, SADIQ ZUBAIR
​President of COREN
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​MRS. NKECHI JANE EGERTON-IDEHEN
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT
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​ISABELLE MIERAU
Space Debris DAO
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DR MATHEW ADEPOJU
Director General of NASRDA
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​DR. HOWARD M. CHIN
Jamaica Welding Institution
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PROF CARL ADAMS
​Cosmopolitan University
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ACCOMMODATION
OUR COLLABORATORS
Space Ungana 2025 is a gathering of academics, advocates, policy makers, technocrats and industry leaders interested in advancing the development of space in Africa. The goal of the Omni Africa Space Research Education and Training Ungana (Space UNGANA) is to explore opportunities and challenges in the space industry ecosystem and identify strategies for building capacity to advance the African Space Agenda and AU 2063 in particular.
COSMOPOLITAN UNIVERSITY (NIGERIA)
ALL NATIONS UNIVERSITY SPACE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS AEROSPACE SIG(USA)
AFRICAN ASSOCIATION FOR TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
AFRICA TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE (COTE D'IVOIRE)
ALL NATIONS UNIVERSITY (GHANA)
