FUTA Alumna Excels in Japan, Advances to PhD in Space Engineering

Husseinat Oluwatofunmi Etti-Balogun, a distinguished alumna of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has achieved remarkable academic success at Kyushu Institute of Technology (KyuTech), Japan.

She recently completed her Master’s degree in Space Engineering with outstanding performance and has now advanced to pursue a PhD in the same field.

Etti-Balogun earned her first degree in Mechanical Engineering during FUTA’s 2020/2021 academic session. During her undergraduate years, she was actively involved in campus activities, serving in the university’s Space Club, a unit under the Centre for Space Research and Applications (CESRA) directed by Professor O.A. Dahunsi, who also supervised her academically. She was equally a community lead in the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador programme, which organized the Global Power Platform Bootcamp (GPPB), the largest MLSA event ever held in West Africa.

Her commitment to space exploration extended beyond FUTA. She collaborated with the Space Generation Advisory Council, participated in international workshops, and delivered conference presentations—all while completing her undergraduate studies.

In 2023, her passion and dedication were rewarded when she won the prestigious United Nations/Japan Long-term Fellowship Programme. The fellowship, established by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of Japan in partnership with KyuTech, provides opportunities for nationals of developing countries to pursue advanced studies in nano-satellite technology. The Postgraduate Study on Nano-Satellite Technologies (PNST) programme admits only three students annually for the Master’s track and another three for the Doctoral track, focusing on developing nano-satellite expertise.

Through the programme, participants not only earn Master’s or Doctoral degrees upon successful thesis defence but also join the Space Engineering International Course (SEIC), equipping them with global expertise in satellite technology.

FUTA and KyuTech share a longstanding collaboration in space research. On July 7, 2017, both institutions successfully launched Nigeria’s first university-owned satellite, NigeriaEdusat-1, into orbit. The satellite was developed under the BIRDS-1 project, which began in 2015, in partnership with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). Mr. Ibukun Adebolu of FUTA’s Mechanical Engineering Department represented Nigeria on the project team.

Etti-Balogun’s academic journey is a continuation of this legacy, placing FUTA and Nigeria firmly on the map of global space exploration.