In its continued commitment to foster curiosity and promote space science education in Nigeria, Astronomers Without Borders Nigeria (AWB Nigeria) recently held a captivating outreach session at Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja. The program combined scientific learning with cosmic wonder—bringing telescopes, solar viewing, and space conversation directly to the students’ schoolyard.
More than just a school visit, this outreach was part of AWB Nigeria’s broader mission to build a generation of astronomically literate youth who are curious, confident, and capable of contributing to Nigeria’s science and innovation future.
A Day with the Stars Begins
The day began with a warm reception from the school’s principal and academic staff. Hundreds of students from JSS and SSS levels gathered with enthusiasm. Many of them had heard about telescopes, constellations, and planets, but had never observed them in real time. AWB Nigeria saw this as an opportunity to transform imagination into experience.
The AWB Nigeria team, equipped with portable telescopes, solar filters, astronomy posters, and projection devices, quickly set up interactive learning stations across the school compound.
Session Highlights
- Solar Observation Station
- Using specialized solar filters, students viewed live sunspots and solar activity.
- The team explained solar flares, light travel time, and how our Sun compares to other stars.
- Safety protocols were emphasized to show responsible sky watching.
- “Sky Tour” Presentation
- Students learned about the solar system, black holes, galaxies, and the lifecycle of stars through a multimedia presentation.
- Constellation stories from African and Greek traditions were used to show how every culture sees the same sky with different meaning.
- Hands-On Activities
- “Build Your Own Crater” activity with flour and rocks to simulate asteroid impacts.
- DIY paper telescopes, where students assembled basic pinhole viewers to understand optics.
- Quiz sessions with rewards to test what students learned throughout the day.
- Meet the Astronomer
- AWB volunteers, including astrophysics graduates and data scientists, spoke to students about careers in astronomy, aerospace, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence.
- Girls were especially encouraged through the “Girls in Space” mini-segment, with female mentors sharing their academic journeys.
Student Reactions
The energy was electric. Students queued up eagerly to view the Sun through a telescope. Many stayed back after the main event to ask questions.
A student from SS2 said, “Today was the first time I saw the Sun not with my eyes, but through a machine that showed it safely. It looked alive.”
Another student commented, “I want to become a scientist because the sky has too many secrets, and I want to know them.”
Teachers expressed their gratitude, noting that this kind of engagement adds immense value to the school curriculum, especially in STEM subjects.
Astronomy as a Learning Tool
The outreach demonstrated that astronomy is more than space—it is a gateway to:
- Mathematics (orbital dynamics, angles, scaling)
- Physics (gravity, light, magnetism)
- Geography (Earth systems, satellite imaging)
- History and culture (indigenous star maps, calendars)
AWB Nigeria made it clear that astronomy is not a “rich nation’s hobby” but an affordable, accessible, and deeply human discipline that connects people and inspires nations.
Quotes from the Day
“Our students saw science in action, not just in theory. It was joyful, inspiring, and unforgettable,”
– Mrs. U. Adebayo, Science Department Head, Premiere Academy
“AWB’s visit was one of the best science days we’ve had. Our teachers learned alongside the students,”
– Mr. Olumide, Vice Principal, Admin
“It’s our mission to leave no child behind—not even when it comes to the stars. Every student in Nigeria deserves access to the sky.”
– AWB Nigeria Team Leader, Abuja Chapter
Looking Forward
Following the success of this event, AWB Nigeria and Premiere Academy have agreed to:
- Launch an Astronomy Club on campus.
- Collaborate on night sky viewing programs and science fairs.
- Introduce mentorship between AWB volunteers and top science students.
The AWB Nigeria outreach to Premiere Academy wasn’t just a visit—it was a launchpad. A launchpad for questions, dreams, and a lifelong relationship with science. These are the seeds of tomorrow’s astronauts, engineers, and thinkers. And it all started with a telescope, a Sun, and the unshakable belief that every child deserves a view of the universe.
One People. One Sky. One Future.