He emphasized that Nigeria stands to benefit from various initiatives under the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), which relies on policy guidance from UN-COPUOS. “With this appointment, Nigeria is strategically positioned to harness the benefits of international cooperation being championed by UN-COPUOS,” Rabiu stated. He also urged young Nigerian scientists to remain committed and focused, saying the appointment serves as inspiration that their work can achieve global impact.
Director-General Matthew Adepoju congratulated Rabiu, calling the appointment another major milestone for Nigeria and NASRDA. He praised Rabiu’s decades of service in advancing space science and technology in Nigeria and his contributions to global space governance. Adepoju pointed out that Nigeria has a long-standing tradition of leadership in UN space forums, citing the late Adigun Abiodun, who chaired the full UN-COPUOS from 2004 to 2006. He also recalled Dr. Francis Chizea, another NASRDA research director, who served as vice-chairman from 2019 to 2021.
“This appointment reaffirms that Nigeria does not merely participate in global space governance but continues to provide leadership at the highest levels,” Adepoju said. UN-COPUOS remains the most important international forum for discussing human activities in outer space, where nations share information on space programmes, policies, and technological developments. Rabiu’s role as rapporteur will involve summarizing discussions and guiding committee proceedings, further elevating Nigeria’s voice in shaping the future of space exploration and utilization.
This appointment marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s space ambitions, reinforcing its position as a key player in global space diplomacy and scientific collaboration.
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