Leveraging Existing Societal Platforms to Enhance Capacity Building Activities at the United Nations Regional Centre in Nigeria

Abstract

Space Science has without doubt made life better and more comfortable in this century. A number of the advances that have been made in health care, disaster monitoring, navigation, and food security are spin-offs of Space Science. Space is also capable of making a difference in the approach to building capacity and this needs to be explored from an unconventional stand point. This, in essence, is what is required for the realities of the XXI century. The attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls for pragmatic, innovative and all-embracing approach. There is no doubt that space science has a crucial role to play in attaining these goals, hence the seven (7) thematic priorities for the implementation of UNISPACE+50, that were endorsed at the Fifty-ninth Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in June 2016. The thematic priorities are aimed at “strengthening the contribution of space activities and space tools for the achievement of global agendas” (A/AC.105/C.1/L364, Draft Resolution on Space as a driver for sustainable development.). In particular, thematic priority 7, which is focused on capacity building for the XXI century is the most cross-cutting aspect of the initiative.