The space should not be an exclusive club, follow me! Africa’s first female astronaut pushes for continent | African Development Bank Group

Africa’s first woman in space, 30-year-old Sara Sabry from Egypt, says space exploration shouldn’t be an exclusive club.

The founder of the Deep Space Initiative was the center of attention on Tuesday, July 4 during a panel discussion at the Africa50 Infra Forum and General Shareholders’ Meeting in Lomé, the capital of Togo.

Investors and policymakers listened intently and often burst into applause as Sara let their imaginations run wild during a TED Talk-esque discussion with Dr. Victor Oladokun, Senior Advisor to the President of the African Development Bank on stakeholder communication and engagement. The theme of the discussion was “A different view: the future of Africa reimagined.”

She stressed that regional and global efforts should be intensified to enable more Africans to participate in space explorations to promote the continent’s socio-economic transformation.

“I don’t think Space should be such an exclusive club. When you’re first at something, you kick the door open for others to follow,” Sabry said. “It is important for Africa to sit at the table and be involved in space exploration. The demographics in space should reflect those of the people on Earth.”

Sabry, who was 29 years old at the time, made history last year when she traveled into space on the New Shepard rocket developed by Blue Origin, an American aerospace company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.

During the event, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Chairman of the African Development Bank Group, Sabry as an inspiration.

“As a young African scientist, you give hope that young people can be in space despite the odds. It is often said that women can do what men can do, but I can say that women can do it better than men,” Adesina said.

Sabry stressed that Africans should pursue space travel. “It is important for Africa to build its space technology capacity and gain its own control,” she said.

Experts believe that satellite technology can have a significant impact on rapidly developing African countries through advanced technologies in weather forecasting, agriculture, navigation, banking and online education.

Sabry also called for a review of laws restricting people from participating in space exploration.

Sabry’s nonprofit, the Deep Space Initiative, is working to make space exploration more accessible to more people worldwide.

Oladokun described Sara as an embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of many.

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