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Barely 24 hours after her high-profile reception at the Benue State Government House, Africa’s first female astronaut and founder of the Deep Space Initiative (DSI), Ms. Sarah Sabri, continued her inspirational tour of the state with a strategic visit to the headquarters of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Makurdi on Tuesday, December 3, 2025.
The Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Grace Adagba, personally received Ms. Sabri and her delegation in a meeting that focused squarely on collaboration in STEM education, space awareness, and getting more Benue children excited about science and innovation from primary school level.
Dr. Adagba, an astronomer herself, described the visit as a proud moment for the board and the state, declaring SUBEB fully open to partnerships that will expose young learners to cutting-edge opportunities in science and technology. She revealed plans to work with the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management to strengthen enforcement of the Universal Basic Education law and drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children across Benue.
In her remarks, Sarah Sabri expressed deep commitment to working with the Benue State Government and SUBEB to make space exploration and STEM education accessible to children in even the most rural communities. She stressed that African youths possess immense talent and creativity that, when properly supported, can drive the continent toward self-sufficiency in critical sectors.
“The Deep Space Initiative exists to create pathways for young Africans to explore their potential in science, technology, and innovation,” Sabri said. “I see in Benue a government that shares this vision, and I am ready to collaborate with SUBEB to inspire the next generation of African scientists, engineers, and possibly astronauts right from primary school.”
The astronaut was accompanied by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Moses Atagher; the Honourable Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. Margaret Adamu; the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Dr. Egbodo; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mrs. Helen Nambativ, and other top government functionaries.
With Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration placing heavy emphasis on education reform and technological advancement, Sarah Sabri’s back-to-back engagements in Makurdi signal the beginning of what could become a transformative partnership, one that may soon see Benue classrooms teaching space science and producing the next wave of African innovators who will literally reach for the stars.
