The United Nations African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (UN-ARCSSTE-E) held an orientation programme for its Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Students on Thursday, February 27, 2025. It was organized to foster an understanding between the Centre and the PGD students in the on-going 2024/2025 academic session.
There was a brief introduction of the top management staff; Executive Director of UNARCSSTE-E, Engr. Dr. Seyi Olatoyinbo; Deputy Director, Finance & Accounts, Alhaji Abdulraheem Shuaib; Deputy Director, Atmospheric and Allied Sciences, Dr. Olakunle Oladosu; Deputy Director, Administration, Mr. Samam Obaguo; and Deputy Director, Academic Programmes, Dr. Felix Buba. The other management staff and members of staff were also on seat as the PGD students introduced themselves to the management and staff of the Centre.The Executive Director of UN-ARCSSTE-E, Engr. Dr. Seyi Olatoyinbo, gave a warm welcome address to the students. He began by giving them the background of the Centre, which was established on the 24th of November, 1998, the various options of courses available; Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (RS/GIS), Satellite Communications (SatCom), Satellite Meteorology & Global Climate (SatMet), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Space & Atmospheric Science (SAS), and Space Law. He also intimated them on the prospect of introducing a new technological course; Space Engineering of which he is very passionate.
Mr. Obaguo presented the Code of Conduct that the students are expected to abide with in order to successfully complete their academic programmes. He talked about the restricted movement of the foreign students within the campus, emphasizing that they cannot leave the vicinity of the campus, especially the town of Ile-Ife without the knowledge and approval of the Executive Director of the Centre. Dr. Oladosu helped to buttress the importance of this regulation by citing some past incidents that were almost unpleasant but for timely intervention of the Centre’s management.
Also, Dr. Buba highlighted the academic requirements necessary for successful completion of the academic programmes. He made the PGD students understand the importance of putting in their best efforts to pass all courses, as failure in any course would call for a re-take in the next academic session. Afterwards, the students were given the opportunity to ask questions to which the top management staff provided satisfactory responses.The Vote of Thanks was given by Dr. Oladosu after which a group photograph of the top management and the PGD students was taken.
Immediately after the program, the students were given a tour around the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Campus so as to become familiar with their environment. They were shown the Dam, the Banking area, the Zoo, the Physical Sciences Department, the University Library, the New Market and others.
