African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education-English

Name

African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education-English

Legal name

African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English

Website

https://arcsstee.org.ng

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Science and Technology Education

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (92711)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)

Keywords

• Space science education
• Remote sensing GIS training
• Satellite meteorology courses
• GNSS atmospheric research
• Postgraduate space technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Ile Ife

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (UN-OOSA and NASRDA): ARCSSTEE operates as a United Nations Centre affiliated to UN-OOSA and as an activity centre of NASRDA, funded primarily through government appropriations and UN framework contributions.
2. Tuition and Programme Fees: Revenue generated from postgraduate diploma programmes, master's programmes, and short courses/workshops. Application fees are charged (e.g., #20,000 for PGD programmes).
3. Professional Services and Training Workshops: Short-term courses and training workshops across key SST application areas are tailor-made for professionals and educators, generating fee-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ARCSSTEE delivers postgraduate diploma, master's degree, and short-course education and training in five core space science and technology domains: Remote Sensing/GIS, Satellite Meteorology & Global Climate, Satellite Communications, Basic Space & Atmospheric Science, and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). It also conducts research producing proprietary ionospheric TEC models (AfriTEC and NigTEC), operates Africa's first cosmic ray muon detector, and provides space weather nowcast data services. Programmes are delivered on a 9-month PGD, 2-year Master's, and short-course basis to English-speaking African countries, including military, security, and government agency personnel.

Product overview

ARCSSTEE is a United Nations Centre established to promote Space Technology education for English-speaking African countries. It operates as a dual entity: as the UN African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (UN-ARCSSTEE) and as the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (CSSTE), an activity Centre of NASRDA. The organization offers a portfolio of educational programs including 9-month Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes in areas such as Remote Sensing/GIS, Satellite Communications, Satellite Meteorology, GNSS, Space Law, and Space Engineering; Master of Technology (M.Tech.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) programmes in collaboration with Nigerian universities; and short-term training workshops. Additionally, the Centre produces research outputs including the AfriTEC and NigTEC ionospheric GNSS TEC models, and provides space weather nowcast data services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Programme in Space Science and Technology A 9-month Postgraduate Diploma programme offering specialisations in Remote Sensing/GIS, Satellite Communications, Satellite Meteorology & Global Climate, Basic Space & Atmospheric Science, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Space Law, and Space Engineering (under development). Targeted at graduates and professionals from 18 English-speaking African countries, including sponsored cohorts from Nigerian and Ghanaian military, police and security services.
• Master of Technology (M.Tech.) Programme in Space Science and Technology Two-year Master of Technology programme run in collaboration with the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), covering Remote Sensing and GIS, Satellite Communications, Satellite Meteorology, and Space and Atmospheric Science. Targeted at postgraduate students from English-speaking African countries seeking advanced SST qualifications.
• Master of Science (M.Sc.) Programmes (Disaster Monitoring & Management; Space Population Studies) Two Master of Science programmes offered in collaboration with Obafemi Awolowo University: M.Sc. in Disaster Monitoring and Management, and M.Sc. in Space Population Studies. Applications for the 2025/2026 intake are processed through the OAU postgraduate application portal (pgapply.oauife.edu.ng).
• Short Courses and Training Workshops Short-term, fee-based courses and tailor-made training workshops across the key application areas of space science and technology: Remote Sensing/GIS, Satellite Meteorology, Satellite Communications, GNSS, Space & Atmospheric Sciences, Space Law, 3D Printing, and Python programming for geoscientists. Targeted at professionals, educators, and government agency personnel across Africa.
• African GNSS TEC Model (AfriTEC Model) A neural-network-based model of the ionospheric GNSS Total Electron Content (TEC) covering the entire African region (Longitudes 25°W to 60°E, Latitudes 40°S to 40°N), updated biennially. Version 2.4 covers the encouraged usage years 2000–2023. Developed in ARCSSTEE's Space Environment Research Laboratory; used by researchers and agencies needing continental-scale ionospheric data.
• Nigeria GNSS TEC Model (NigTEC Model) A neural-network-based ionospheric GNSS TEC model covering Nigeria specifically (Longitudes 2–15°E, Latitudes 4–14°N), spanning encouraged usage years 2010–2023. Version 1.2; provides GNSS TEC values at all locations over Nigeria for research and operational use.
• Space Weather Nowcast and 3-Day Forecast Data Service Operational nowcast and 3-day forecast of daily ionospheric maps generated from ARCSSTEE's regional ionospheric models, providing space weather parameters and observations. Delivered via the Centre's Space Weather Update website channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600 participants trained from 18 African countries, including military, police, and intelligence personnel
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and core.

• European Union (EU) and European Space Agency (ESA)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025A high-level EU and ESA delegation paid a working visit to ARCSSTEE in December 2025, exploring potential collaboration areas in space science and technology education between the European space ecosystem and the African regional centre.
• Cooperative Information Network (COPINE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2024COPINE, under the directorship of Dr. Omowumi Alabi, collaborates with ARCSSTEE on capacity building initiatives. Both centres share proximity on OAU Campus and engage in joint activities including staff promotion exercises and collaborative projects aimed at maximising human capacity development.
• Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2024OAU is the host university for ARCSSTEE, providing campus facilities, joint Master's programmes (M.Sc. in Disaster Monitoring & Management and Space Population Studies), and collaborative research. The Centre is situated within the OAU Campus and has land allocated by the university for development. The Vice Chancellor and OAU management actively participate in Centre events including graduation ceremonies.
• African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2024ARCSSTEE co-hosted the Nigerian Space Symposium (NSS) 2024 with AFRIGIST at OAU, Ile-Ife. Two past ARCSSTEE Directors (Prof. E.E. Balogun and Prof. J.O. Akinyede) received Hall of Fame Awards at the event. Both institutions share campus proximity and collaborate on capacity building in geospatial and space science.
• Georgia State University (GSU), USAstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2024Partnership to advance research on space weather, climate change, and cosmic rays. GSU designed and developed the first cosmic ray muon detector in Africa, installed in Nigeria through NASRDA/ARCSSTEE. Prof. He Xiaochun (Director of Physics and Astronomy at GSU) leads the collaboration, enhancing Nigerian capacity building in cosmic ray and space weather research.
• SQUARE (Societal Value of Quality Low-Cost Urban Air Monitoring)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2023ARCSSTEE partnered with SQUARE, Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers, and Nigerian Society of Engineers (Manchester Branch, UK) to co-organise a Low-Cost Air Quality Sensor Challenge workshop aimed at developing innovative low-cost air quality sensors for measuring air pollution in low-resource environments.
• Osun State University (UNIOSUN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2023ARCSSTEE's Executive Director Professor Babatunde Rabiu led a delegation to strengthen collaboration with UNIOSUN, exploring joint postgraduate programmes, training workshops, and access to atmospheric research data. The Vice Chancellor expressed interest in formalising the collaboration through a Memorandum of Agreement.
• Bowen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2023ARCSSTEE delegation visited Bowen University to advance academic research relationships, explore PGD programme enrolment, and discuss participation in the Diaspora Professor Initiative for virtual lecturing and co-supervision. The Vice-Chancellor proposed drafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) from the existing MoU.
• African Geophysical Society (AGS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2022President of AGS, Prof Olivier Obrou, visited ARCSSTEE to discuss collaboration areas including research, membership, exchange programmes, and joint initiatives. AGS focuses on expansion of Earth and space science studies across Africa and facilitates cooperation among scientists through conferences, schools, workshops, and publications.
• National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARCSSTEE is an activity centre of NASRDA, operating under its aegis. NASRDA provides institutional oversight, strategic direction through its 3-Point Agenda, and coordinates promotion exercises and staff development. The Director-General of NASRDA appoints the Executive Director of ARCSSTEE.
• Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUTA collaborates with ARCSSTEE on the M.Tech. programme in Space Science and Technology, offering specialisations in Remote Sensing and GIS, Satellite Communications, Satellite Meteorology, and Space and Atmospheric Science. Dr. Ogunjo from FUTA facilitated Python programming training for ARCSSTEE staff.
• United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN-OOSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARCSSTEE is a United Nations Regional Centre established under the auspices of UN-OOSA to promote space technology education for English-speaking African countries. UN-OOSA provides the overarching framework and international recognition that underpins the Centre's mandate and operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST): BIUST hosts space and earth-observation research and postgraduate training in Southern Africa, and is increasingly positioned as an emerging African hub for applied SST education. It is comparable to ARCSSTEE as an emerging African player developing indigenous space-science capacity, though it operates primarily as a degree-granting university rather than a UN regional centre.

Direct peers

• Centre Régional Africain des Sciences et Technologies de l'Espace en Langue Française (CRASTE-LF): CRASTE-LF is the French-language sister UN-OOSA regional centre for space science and technology education, based in Rabat, Morocco. It mirrors ARCSSTEE's mandate and structure for francophone Africa, making it a direct functional peer and natural counterpart for joint continental initiatives.
• Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP): CSSTEAP is a UN-OOSA regional centre delivering postgraduate SST education across Asia and the Pacific, headquartered in India. It shares ARCSSTEE's UN affiliation, programme structure (PGD, M.Tech.), and focus areas in Remote Sensing, GNSS, and Satellite Communications, making it a strong structural and curricular peer.
• African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST): AFRIGIST is a regional centre focused on geospatial information science and technology training, co-located at Ile-Ife within Obafemi Awolowo University. It offers overlapping postgraduate programmes in Remote Sensing/GIS and related fields, making it the closest direct peer by mandate, geography, and curriculum focus.
• Centro Regional de Enseñanza de Ciencia y Tecnología del Espacio para América Latina y el Caribe (CRECTEALC): CRECTEALC is the UN-OOSA regional centre serving Latin America and the Caribbean, with a comparable mandate in space science and technology education and similar programme delivery model. It is a direct regional-system peer that operates under the same UN framework as ARCSSTEE.

Broad incumbents

• Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA): EgSA is the national space agency of Egypt and runs capacity-building programmes in satellite technology, GNSS, and space science. It is comparable to ARCSSTEE as an African space-education stakeholder and potential regional collaboration partner, though it operates at national-agency scale rather than as a regional training centre.
• Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST): IIST is a national university under India's Department of Space offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in space science and engineering. It is comparable to ARCSSTEE in advanced SST education delivery and curriculum, but as a much larger national-level incumbent rather than a regional centre.
• International Space University (ISU): ISU is a global, non-degree-granting space education institution headquartered in Strasbourg, France, offering MSc and executive programmes across space science, policy, and engineering. It overlaps with ARCSSTEE in space-focused higher education and serves many of the same emerging-country professionals, but at a broader international rather than regional African remit.
• South African National Space Agency (SANSA): SANSA is a national space agency with active education, training, and space-weather programmes serving South Africa and the broader region. It is a broader-incumbent peer to ARCSSTEE: overlapping in SST capacity-building and outreach, but operating as a national agency with a much wider mandate and resource base.

Others

• National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA): NASRDA is the Nigerian federal space agency and the parent organisation overseeing ARCSSTEE as an activity centre. It is comparable as an institutional counterparty rather than a peer competitor, providing governance, funding, and infrastructure that ARCSSTEE depends on for operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ARCSSTEE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-regional-centre-for-space-science-and-technology-education-english

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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