Environment and Ecology Research 5(5): 386-394, 2017 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/eer.2017.050508 United Nations Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Africa: Achievements, Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future Ganiyu I. Agbaje African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE-E), Ile-Ife, Nigeria Copyright©2017 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract Capacity building in Space Science and Technology as well as enhancement and retention of existing capacity, are critical for developing competencies to efficiently respond to societal challenges and addressing sustainable development. Following the UN General Assembly resolutions 37/90 of 10th December 1982 (UNISPACE), and 45/72 of 11 December, 1990 (UN-COPUOS), the UN-OOSA established the Regional Centers for Space Science and Technology Education in 1995. To date six (6) Regional Centers have been established with the main aim to build a high quality capacity and critical mass of indigenous Space Scientists/Educators in developing countries for the development and application of Space Science & Technology for Sustainable National & Regional Development. African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education has been established in Africa since 1998. This paper describes the achievements of the Centre since inception through their Postgraduate and Outreach programs. It is, however, observed that Member States have not optimally worked together to maximally utilize the opportunities that this Regional Centre present. By highlighting the capabilities of the Centre, the future plans for harnessing the human potential available for the next generation in Africa are discussed. Argument was made for the need for integrated space technology and applications to be domesticated at the UN regional Centers for ease of access to best practice and fast-track sustainable developments and regional collaborations. In conclusion, the challenges of the Centre, which in turn impact on the local space workforce, are mentioned and recommendations are made to this effect. Keywords United Nations, Space Science & Technology, Capacity Building, Outreach 1. Introduction The exponential growth of scientific knowledge and continuing development in technology are transforming the society daily. Our lives and future depend profoundly on our understanding of planet Earth. Space technology enables us to observe possible threats to life on Earth and has tools to help inhibit them. Our Knowledge about space increased through scientific studies can have enormous economic and social benefits that could contribute to meeting many societal needs, from human security to sustainable development. Age of space technology has become a significant part of our daily lives. Owing to the rewards and opportunities afforded by space technology and science and their use in promoting social and economic development and looking at possibilities to enable development in nations, also to have access to space technology tools by strengthening their indigenous capacities in this field, the United Nation, through its Office for Outer Space Affairs, facilitated the establishment and operation of the Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education, affiliated to the United Nations. According to [7] capacity building could be defined as the sum total of a country’s human, scientific, technological, organization to reduce the level of risk, it is the development of facilities, programs or other resources which help develop a community’s (organization or group) ability to perform specific tasks. A fundamental goal of capacity building is to enhance the abilities of stakeholders to evaluate and address crucial questions related to policy choices and modes of implementation among different options for development. These could be based on the understanding of the environmental potential and limits and of the needs that is needed by the people of the country concerned. Capacity building in Space Science and Technology as well as enhancement and retention of existing capacity, are critical for developing competencies to efficiently respond to societal challenges and addressing sustainable development. To meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030), Africa needs to build and strengthen her capacity to assimilate and generate knowledge for sustainable