On 17 January 2024, ISU President Prof Nicolas Peter was invited as the guest of honor at the 44th Session of the intergovernmental organization ICESCO, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Specializing in the fields of education, science, and culture, ICESCO consists of fifty-four Member States, along with three Observer States. The Session was hosted in Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and included the participation of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, distinguished ministers and ambassadors, as well as representatives from ICESCO Member States and delegations from regional and international organizations.
Prof Peter, in his keynote address, highlighted several critical topics:
· The increasingly vital role of space solutions as the invisible backbone of our societies, which provides critical infrastructure.
· The imperative of international cooperation in the space sector.
· The vital role of capacity building and STEM education in driving socio-economic development across the globe.
· The diverse activities and programs offered by ISU, and the instrumental role of our Alumni Network.
The invitation extended to ISU follows an agreement signed by both organizations on Friday 15 December 2023 to establish an ICESCO Chair at ISU dedicated to space engineering and space sciences. In this context, Prof. Taiwo Tejumola will launch a series of activities from workshops on CubeSats and small satellites, to interdisciplinary space systems and engineering courses.
