Engr. Dr. Seyi Festus Olatoyinbo assumed his position as the seventh (7th) Executive Director of the United Nations African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E) on Monday, July 22, 2024. He brought a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously served as the substantive Provost of the Institute of Space Science and Engineering (ISSE), a postgraduate institute under the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Within his first hundred (100) days, Engr. Dr. Seyi F. Olatoyinbo has established a series of collaborations with the host community; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), and various institutions within and outside of the OAU Campus. A few of his collaborations are as follows:
- Engr. Dr. Festus Olatoyinbo paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor A. S. Bamire, on Tuesday, 13th August 2024 in one of the conference halls within the Senate Building where he restated the mandate of the Centre and reinforce the joint Master’s program that the Centre has with OAU On Thursday, 3rd October 2024, Engr. Dr. Seyi Olatoyinbo and his team visited the Director of the Cooperative Information Network (COPINE) under the directorship of Dr. Omowumi Alabi. During this visit, he expressed his desire to work closely with COPINE to ensure that both centres develop human capacity maximally. Furthermore, during these past months, he has hosted events in successions
- On Monday, 26th August, 2024, Engr. Dr. Seyi F. Olatoyinbo hosted the 24th Postgraduate Diploma Graduation Ceremony as the seventh Executive Director of UN-ARCSSTE-E. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to the implementation of its mandates
- The 200 Level Students of Surveying and Geoinformatics Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) visited the Space Museum of the United Nations African Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in English (UN-ARCSSTE-E) on Thursday, 5th September 2024 for an enlightening session about Space and its applications
On Friday, 27th September 2024, ARCSSTE-E in collaboration with AFRIGIST co-hosted the – Nigerian Space Symposium (NSS)- at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria where two (2) of its past Directors; Prof. E.E Balogun and Prof. J.O Akinyede were the recipients of the Hall of Fame Award
On October 9th, 2024, Engr. Dr. Seyi F. Olatoyinbo hosted students, educators, and dignitaries during the global celebration of World Space Week themed “Space and Climate Change,” to raise awareness of space science and technology’s role in mitigating climate change and advancing humanity. In his efforts to boost staff development, Engr. Dr. Seyi F. Olatoyinbo led an in-house training on 23rd October 2024. The training was focused on the Code of Ethics in the Public Service, boosting staff proficiency and efficiency in their professional delivery. Notwithstanding all these events, in the bid to lead by example in self-improvement, Engr. Dr. Seyi Festus Olatoyinbo FNIMechE, received double honours as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers and as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Space Engineers; an institution of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) at the Nigerian Society of Engineers – Headquarters on the 17th and 19th of October, 2024 respectively!
Moving forward, the Executive Director of UN-ARCSSTE-E intends to work in line with the 3-point Agenda of Dr. Mathew Olumide ADEPOJU, DG/CEO of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), and thereby focus on the following:
1) Infrastructural Development including office space, laboratories, lecture rooms, E-Library facilities, ICT infrastructure, Teaching Aids & Equipment, Media Equipment Upgrade, etc.
2) Capacity Building in terms of in-house training, Workshops, Refresher Courses, Academic/Professional Development support, innovative research works, conference attendance & journal publication, etc.
3) Staff Welfare including support for social engagements Recognition of Outstanding Staff in each Division, Keep-Fit Exercise, End-of-the-Year Get-Together, etc.
Engr. Dr, Seyi F. Olatoyinbo proposes to reposition ARCSSTEE for global competitiveness in Space Science and Technology Education, among others