Space Bar Africa

We want to create a practical environment for astronomy and space enthusiasts by making quality telescopes accessible to Nigerians.

What is it and what does it do?
Nigerian youths and kids are interested in but alienated from space exploration and research because there isn't enough access to telescopes.

Space Bar is Lagos’ first space observatory. Everyone can walk in to use telescopes, stay overnight, rent one, use VR cubicles and use a space themed library.

What processes and technology does it use?

In the process of making quality telescopes accessible to Nigerians, we can not leave out the fact that space has always been a theory to the average Nigerian for several decades. This has closed the opportunities we could have explored in that area. Everyone should see through a telescope once in their lifetime. Space Bar uses the following technologies:

-high end telescopes
-VR cubicles
-space themed library

Just as we saw with Galileo, looking through a telescope can change how we see everything else.

We are helping people get access to telescopes and giving them more exposure to astronomy.

Youths in Nigeria are passionate about space research, but we don't have centers or a lot of astronomical activities going on. This adds up to our deficiency in educational technology.

Because of this, we are behind. That is why we want to trigger the innovative mindset in kids and young people at Space Bar.

For long, we have been alienated from astronomy because of access to telescopes (which are expensive, time taking to ship and are not sold around). At Spacebar, we want to trigger a long term conversation, birth more creative and innovative minds.

Knowledge taught in the abstract can’t stand the test of time. Generations of kids in Nigeria go to class for a long outdated curriculum and no practical. We want to bring that experience. We also have people underserved who have always longed to see space but have no means. We want to serve that niche.

Who we serve

Our solutions serve 3 classes.

• Children 5-12

• Teens 13-18

• Young adults 19-25

Those are our core target market.

Spacebar aims to help with their psychosocial development, cognitive reasoning, social development, emotional intelligence and trigger a high sense of reasoning.

Our end goal is to let them know that the world is not just limited to their immediate community. There's more globally and beyond our planet.

We are running in the spirit of "acting locally and thinking globally". We want kids To be able to think outside the box, reach for the stars and think like global citizens.

We want to trigger their curiosity to want to learn more which will then help them impact their community in the long run. The potentials before us are as infinite as the universe.

It’s going to expose them to various trends in space science and space tech. It’s going to help them bring theories they’ve been taught to life. It will make them see practically to understand concepts like optical science, physics, geography and astronomy itself.

We have researched with current users to know that there's a huge need for what Spacebar offers and currently have 200 space enthusiasts on our waiting list who signed up from our website.

We recently had a prelaunch in December (see Twitter) with Backpackers Ijebu where we had a star gazing night and got feedback from the experience and we will be touring more schools

We also have a remote relationship with other observatories in different parts of the world for both moral support and consultation on best practices. They are so excited to work with us that Al Sadeem Observatory (alsadeemastronomy.ae) just promised to donate a telescope to us. (See attachment).

We have done a roadshow/prelaunch event with Backpacker's Ijebu (reports here) and we have a waiting list of space enthusiasts and schools who can't wait for our launch.

We chose this stage because we have just one telescope, no facility space and funding.

We use the following to power SpaceBar.

Telescopes: To observe and take pictures of space.
VR cubicles: To interactively explore animated space experience, games and learning

We will directly and meaningfully affect 1000 people within our target audience this year.

To make telescopes accessible to everyone:

1. We will have a variety of telescopes that we can take for location based shows, camping events, schools, and station at our observatory.

2. We will create events where astronomy and star gazing will be core-programs and have exciting astro icebreakers in between to engage and stir conversations in others.

We are focused on the following goals in no respective order:

4 -  Quality Education

9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

10 - Reduced Inequality

13 - Climate Action

Here's how we measure our growth:

1. Number of [target audience] who use our telescopes at Space Bar's location.
2. Number of [target audience] who use our telescopes at locations we are invited to

3. Number of organizational/school partnerships

4. Number of females

5. Number of event/camping events held

Our biggest challenge yet has been funding for telescopes and to rent a space.

Daniel Damilola Obiokeke 
Coding since 14, Daniel is a software engineer, three time Wikipedia grantee and Mozilla Community Lead. He is passionate about STEM and the opportunities it opens up for youths and kids.

Oluwasegun Olusoji- Ojelade:

He is a budding Data Analyst with a Chemical Engineering degree University of Lagos. He is a person's who is quite knowledgeable across various disciplines of life and that has helped him a network of resourceful acquaintances. He has pioneered two teens churches and has a great experience serving as a leader at various levels of his Church as a teenager.

He currently serves as the executive director of a youth-led ENGO, JOMO Climate Initiative. 

Emmanuel Odia Ogbebor is a Social Entrepreneur whose focal point of advocacy are Digital Inclusion and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with other interests and experience in Social Change & Development, New Business Ideation & Implementation, STEM Education & Digital  Media Strategy. 

Starting his career in Business development with the Hult Prize Foundation as Campus Director in Covenant University for two  sessions which produced a total of over 50 teams with 6 teams under his direct mentorship who competed at the Hult Prize Regional Finals in San Francisco, Dubai and London in 2016 and 2017 on same platforms as  London School of Economics, MIT, ESADE, Harvard, UCLA,  etc. He also worked with the Hult Prize Africa team in hosting the First Regional Finals at Covenant  University. 

He currently works as Business Development Associate for Spacebar Africa.

Al Sadeem Observatory on industry's best practice and quality advice. Interestingly, their profile as a citizen owned observatory and the first in the United Arab Emirates matches our novelty.