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In an inspiring development for Nigeria’s Benue State, Sarah Sabry, the pioneering Egyptian astronaut who became the first woman from Africa to travel to space, has revealed plans for her organizations – Kora Tech Lab and Deep Space Initiative – to formally partner with the Benue State Government. The collaboration will focus on expanding opportunities for young people, with a special emphasis on encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation.
Sabry, who made history in 2022 aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, disclosed the partnership during a working visit to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi on Tuesday. While touring the facility, she expressed genuine admiration for the hospital’s sophisticated clinical equipment and high operational standards, describing the visit as “strategic” and praising Governor Hyacinth Alia’s developmental strides across the state.
Speaking to journalists after inspecting landmark projects within the teaching hospital, the astronaut-turned-advocate said her foundations are actively exploring ways to extend existing partnerships to the health institution while identifying new collaborative areas that can directly support youth development and innovation in Benue. She assured stakeholders that initiatives under the planned partnership would be designed to inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.
“Seeing the quality of infrastructure and the commitment here gives me confidence that together we can create real impact,” Sabry said. “We want Benue youth, especially girls, to know that no dream is too big – not even traveling to space.”
The Chief Medical Director of BSUTH, Dr. Terungwa Stephen Hwande, warmly received Sabry and her delegation. He thanked her for the visit and reaffirmed the hospital’s readiness to collaborate on projects that improve healthcare delivery while contributing to broader human capital and economic development goals in the state.
Many observers described the visit as perfectly timed, noting that Sabry’s presence serves as a powerful motivation for young girls across the state and the country to break barriers in male-dominated fields. Her story of rising from Cairo to the edge of space continues to rekindle the can-do spirit that has earned Nigerians global recognition in virtually every sphere of human endeavor.
With this emerging partnership, Benue State appears poised to become a hub for youth-focused innovation and STEM education in Nigeria’s North-Central region, leveraging Sabry’s global platform and the state government’s commitment to human capital development.
Sarah Sabry’s journey from Africa to space and now back to the continent to lift others is a reminder that when trailblazers return home, entire communities rise with them.
