The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has taken a bold step towards shaping Nigeria’s future workforce by reaching out directly to children through its newly launched STEAM Funfest. The event, which held in Abuja on August 23, 2025, was designed to engage primary and secondary school children during their holidays with the theme: “Exploring Space Technology and STEM Education.”
Far more than a holiday camp, the programme sought to ignite curiosity, encourage creativity, and highlight diverse career opportunities within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). With Nigeria still working towards building strong capacity in space exploration, NASRDA believes the foundation must start early—by preparing children to imagine and embrace roles in a rapidly evolving scientific landscape.
Professor Matthew Adepoju, Director-General of NASRDA, represented by Daniel Egure, the head of space education, explained the vision behind the initiative. According to him, there is an urgent need to capture children’s imaginations before they drift away from science. “Our goal is to spark curiosity in young minds, build their mindset, encourage innovation, and inspire them to grow within science and technology,” he said.
Adepoju stressed that a country’s future depends heavily on its investment in human capital. For Nigeria to truly benefit from its space programme, he said, the nation must nurture children into seeing space not as a distant dream but as a practical and attainable career path.

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Why STEAM, Not Just STEM
A unique feature of the Funfest was its focus on STEAM instead of the traditional STEM. While science, technology, engineering, and mathematics remain central, the deliberate inclusion of Arts reflects a recognition that creativity and communication are essential to scientific progress. From visualising space concepts to designing technologies and telling compelling stories, the arts give human expression to science.
Dr. Olayinka Fagbero, founder of Astronomy Without Borders (AWB), explained that this broader approach was deliberate. “Space is not only for scientists and engineers. Whether you love arts, commerce, or sciences, there is a place for you in space,” she said.
Her words addressed a widespread misconception—that space science is reserved for a select group of technical minds. In reality, careers in the space sector also rely on educators, artists, communicators, policy makers, and even economists. Nigeria, she argued, must prepare a multidisciplinary generation that sees opportunities everywhere.
Fagbero added that Nigeria has operated a national space agency for over 25 years, yet this has not translated into deep-rooted youth participation. She believes initiatives like the Funfest are crucial to guide children in making purposeful career choices early in life.
A Holiday of Learning and Fun
The Funfest combined the excitement of a holiday outing with the structure of a serious educational programme. From robotics to artificial intelligence, the event introduced children to subjects that are shaping the 21st-century workforce. They were also exposed to women in space-related fields, breaking stereotypes and showing young girls that they too belong in science and engineering.
Highlights of the programme included:
- Panel discussions explaining careers in AI, space science, and robotics.
- Inspiring talks by women professionals, sharing their journeys into STEAM.
- Interactive career coaching, where experts offered guidance on educational choices.
- Quizzes and competitions, which kept learning lively and participatory.
- STEM resource showcases, letting children handle tools and explore practical demonstrations.

For many children, it was their first direct contact with professionals in space and technology. For parents, it was a refreshing reminder that career guidance must go beyond the classroom.
Co-convener Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu of Edufun Technik described the initiative as a movement, not just an event. She stressed that parental support is vital: “Parents must encourage their children, not push them only towards traditional professions. With STEAM, the opportunities are wide.”
To sustain momentum, organisers announced plans to establish STEM clubs in schools across Nigeria. These clubs would ensure that the excitement does not end with the Funfest but continues through peer learning, mentorship, and structured activities within the school calendar.
Planting Seeds for Nigeria’s Future
The broader vision of NASRDA’s sensitisation campaign is to cultivate a generation that will not only consume technology but also create it. Nigeria’s space programme—though promising—cannot thrive without homegrown talent. By exposing children early, the agency hopes to reduce dependency on foreign expertise in the years to come.
Professor Adepoju underlined that global competitiveness depends on early preparation. Nations such as India, South Africa, and China have made significant strides in space technology due to deliberate investments in youth education. Nigeria, he said, must not lag behind.
The STEAM Funfest represents the first layer of what could become a national movement. If implemented through school clubs, mentorship, and industry partnerships, it has the potential to transform the way Nigerian children perceive careers. Instead of perceiving science as boring or difficult, children could begin to see it as exciting, creative, and deeply rewarding.

Parents who attended the Abuja event spoke of their children returning home inspired, asking new questions about rockets, satellites, and even art in space. Teachers noted that such hands-on exposure often translates to better classroom engagement. For the organisers, these outcomes are early signs of success.
NASRDA’s collaboration with partners like Astronomy Without Borders and Edufun Technik also underscores the importance of partnerships. Government agencies, NGOs, and private organisations must pool resources if Nigeria is to secure a meaningful role in the global knowledge economy.
Ultimately, the sensitisation drive is about more than individual careers; it is about national destiny. A country that empowers its children to embrace STEAM is a country that secures its future. With continuous investment, the children who played, learned, and dreamed at the Funfest may one day lead Nigeria’s space missions, design world-class innovations, or tell compelling stories that put Nigerian science on the global stage.
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