The Space Club of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State Nigeria on Friday, April 22 hosted the only registered Yuri’s Night event in West Africa.
Yuri’s night is the World Space Party held every April, during which the World come together to dream about where “we are going, explore where we are and celebrate where we have been.”
It is globally celebrated in memory of the first man in Space, a Russian Cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin. The event which had in attendance both staffs, students and friends of the University was declared opened by the University Vice Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics; Prof. Olatunde Arayela.
The major feature of the event was a Stage Drama titled “Voyage to Mars”; a fictional story of a Nigerian scientist at the Federal University of Technology, Akure that came up with the theory and equation that will later land man on the Mars.
In the Story: Federal University of Technology, Akure is depicted as the World number 1 University of Technology where inventions are birthed and World Renowned scientists are made.
The scientist is a Professor in the University whose ambition is to win the year’s Nobel Prize award in Physics– He has been working on the theory for years – Since his PhD days.
The event occurs at a time when there is rift between USA and Nigeria on who the leading Space Agency in the world is – the first to land man on Mars – A time when the Earth is no longer habitable as a result of Climate Change/Global Warming.
The Stage drama was acted by Students of the University and Directed by a 300 level Student of the University named Ajayi Ayowole Damilola.
The event ended with an award presentation to the person that has contributed more to Space Science and Technology in the University in the past one year.
The Space Person of the Year award is an annual award opened to the University Staff and students to celebrate whoever has contributed most to Space Science in the University.
This year’s award was presented to Prof. J.O Akinyede, the Director of the Centre for Space Research and Applications of the University.
“We believe one day, the Earth might no longer be habitable for human kind. We need to save our planet and at the same time explore and we believe Mars is a good destination for us.
“We believe our country Nigeria has a great part to play in the development Space Science and Technology and we as a club has dedicated ourselves to this,” President of the University Space Club, Oniosun Temidayo Isaiah stated.
An Asteroid Search Campaign where Students of the University will make real Asteroid Discoveries in a bid to save our planet will hold in June/July this year.
