Sara Sabry, the first woman from Africa and the Arab world to travel in space, calls for space exploration opportunities for all Africans. Sara Sabry, 30, is the first African and Arab woman to travel in space. He believes that everyone should be able to explore space. A panel discussion at the Africa50 Infra Forum outlines Sara Sabry's mission to restore Africa's future through regional and international engagement in space exploration. Sabry's Deep Space Initiative aims to provide global space exploration opportunities, highlighting the importance of Africa's involvement in space technology development and legislative change. On Tuesday, July 4, a panel discussion at the Africa50 Infra Forum and the General Meeting of Shareholders held in Lomé, the capital of Togo, included the initiator of the Deep Space initiative. Businessmen and policymakers listened intently, often applauding when Sara challenged their ideas during her TED Talks-style debate with Dr. Victor Oladokun, Director of Communications and Engagement and President of the African Development Bank. The topic of discussion is "Different Perspectives: Rethinking Africa's Future."
He strongly believes that regional and international efforts will intensify to enable Africans to participate in space exploration to promote social development in the continent. When Sabry, then 29 years old, launched into space on the New Shepard rocket developed by Blue Origin, the American aerospace company founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, he made history. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the CEO of the African Development Bank Group spoke at the event and called Sabry an inspiration. "As a young African scientist, you give hope that young people can be in space despite obstacles. It is often said that women can do what men can do, but I can say that women can do better than men,” said Adesina. Sabry emphasized that it is up to Africans to do space exploration. "It is important for Africa to build its capacity in space technology and gain its own control," he said. By improving technology for weather forecasting, agriculture, navigation, banking, and online education, experts believe that satellite technology will greatly benefit the rising African nation. Sabry also called for the law preventing citizens from participating in space exploration to be reviewed.
"I don't think Space should be such an exclusive club. To be the first at something is to kick down the door for others to follow," Sabry said. “It is important for Africa to have a seat at the table and be involved in space exploration. The demographic in space must reflect that of people on Earth.”
