Abiodun Ogunbiyi - Abiodun Ogunbiyi

Abiodun is an AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics) Educator Associate, a motivational speaker, a researcher, a university of Ibadan graduate of Petroleum Engineering, with professional qualifications from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida and Federal Aviation Administration, USA and Queen Elizabeth Prize in Engineering Ambassador. He is the President/CEO/Founder of Aerospace Palace International Nigeria (APIN), Aerospace Palace Academy Nigeria (Aeroversity, Nigeria) and Aerospace FM online Radio Nigeria (The Aerospace World media) established with the sole responsibility of promoting, Aerospace & STEM education among the youths with the vision to support SDGs 4, 5, 8, 9 & 10, provide job opportunities, raise quality leaders who can ‘man’ the Aerospace industry and ultimately make our skies safer by the year 2025. In this regard, he was appointed as a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In September 2019, Abiodun was selected as one of the best 20 under 35 professionals in the space and satellite industry, thereby becoming the first back man to win the highly coveted award. https://www.sspi.org/cpages/20-under-35 consequently in 2019, he became International Space Station Ambassador.

In 2018, Aerospace Palace International received accreditation from the International Youth Federation, UK (IYF/NAC/1160) which clearly reflects his solid commitment and dedication to supporting youth empowerment to achieve sustainable, better and empowered youth by 2030.  Also in 2019, the Institute of International Education (IIE) Texas appointed Aerospace Palace International as a commitment partner towards achieving the aims and objectives of the ‘Study Abroad’ programme.

Abiodun has been involved in social works and community development initiatives. He has been a very active, young community leader. He has been involved in series of community and social development initiatives, including but not limited to, mentoring of the younger generations of Nigerians in reaching out to the youth for purposes of changing the paradigmatic approaches to responsible governance and good leadership as well as systematic approach to fighting social ills like corruption and others.

In 2018, he was invited by African Union as a participant in the annual “Innovating Education in Africa Expo’ with his project acknowledged and published in the first edition of African Union Education Innovations Handbook.  In 2018, he was one of the 4 experts invited from Nigeria by the United Nations office for Outer Space (UNOOSA) for the annual Expert Meeting in Vienna, Austria.

Since 2016 he has been a Reviewer and expert for National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), USA as a result of which he has evaluated proposals submitted by over 30 universities and organizations across United Stated. He is also a judge in the NASA Annual Astrobiology Debate among Universities and colleges in USA. He is currently working as a Reviewer for the NASA STEM 2019 (EONS-2019).

Since 2005, Abiodun has been working as a consultant and reviewer to ‘To Love Educational Foundation, USA’ as a result of which I reviewed and corrected the ‘Healthy & Smart’ HIV/AIDS curriculum for African schools; this made me to review works on mental health, drug effects and ensured it is biologically and culturally acceptable for implementation in Africa. He also worked and evaluated proposals on projects in conflicts Analysis and management.

In 2018, Abiodun obtained an Affiliate status of the "European Alliance for Innovation" in order to foster excellence in research and innovation on the principles of transparency, objectivity, equality, and openness. With passion to create better research, provide fair recognition of excellence and transform best ideas into commercial value proposition.

In 2019, Abiodun was nominated as one of the 100 most influential people of Africa descent (MIPAD), nominated for 40 under 40 Achievement in Aviation award in USA.

Also, he was recently appointed as an Ambassador for the Queen Elizabeth Prize in Engineering Award which is an international network of young engineers from both business and academic institutions. As a Queen Elizabeth Engineering Ambassador, he has been involved in numerous projects, even at the council level among which is the Global Grand Challenges Summit (www.ggcs2019.com). As a Queen Elizabeth Engineering Ambassador, he has been involved with the Global Grand Challenges Summit as a result of which he has shared his experience in the STEM mentoring at the collaboration lab, the purpose is to guide the students as they work in mixed country team and provide prompts and perspective from which they can grow their idea. Additionally, there were opportunities to advise students on a more intimate basis, between session to offer insight into the skills, experience and general good for thought that can assist them as they embark on their careers. He has shared his volunteering (time and expertise) help the next generational of engineering and social science professionals become equipped to establish and advance their careers. As a Collaboration Lab judge, he assisted in judging the in-country pitches that took place on the first day of the event, where students presented in short pitches the ideas they have been working on in their respective countries. Thereafter, there were opportunities to assist in judging the mixed country teams as they present the ideas they have been working on over the 3 days at the event.

He was appointed as a/an/the:

1. Commitment Partner, The Institute of International Education (IIE) Study Abroad, USA
2. Judge, Expert and Mentor, MassChallenge Competitions in Israel, Boston, Houston, Texas, Switzerland, Rhode Island and Mexico. As a result of which he has reviewed and evaluated proposals submitted by more than 200 Entrepreneurs and Startups across the world.
3. Member Review Committee, Edison Innovation Award
4. Reviewer, Foundation for Polish Science, Poland
5. Evaluator, Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TACR).
6. Reviewer, Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), UK
7. Reviewer and Board Member of the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
8. Career Mentor, University of Exeter, UK
9. Member, Editorial Board – Review committee, International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research. 
10. Scientific reviewer, European Corporation in Science and Technology (COST).
11. Reviewer, G5 Department of Education of the United States Government
12. Reviewer, European Academy of Management (EURAM), Brussels, Belgium
13. Reviewer, UNESCO Newton Prize, for UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
14. Reviewer, United States Department of Labour
15. Reviewer by GLOBE International STEM Network, USA (GISN) with the mission to promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery.
16. Judge for the International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS), USA
17. Reviewer for the US Department of Health and Human Service-substance abuse and mental health Administration (SAMHSA)
18. Expert for the European Union (EU) expertise on social protection, Labour and employment (SOCIEUX+)
19. Reviewer for Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR), USA where I worked to review grant applications for New innovator in food & Agriculture Research and Seeding solutions.
20. Reviewer for Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Netherlands.
21. Reviewer, European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), Netherlands.
22. Reviewer, EUREKA Experts Community, Europe
23. Reviewer, INNOWWIDE, Belgium
24. Peer Reviewer, PROCESS project for University of Limerick, Bernal Institute
25. Associate Member, College of Reviewers, Canada.
26. Peer Reviewer, The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) of the United States government as a result of which I participated in peer reviews for the following agencies:

• Bureau of Justice Statistics
• Bureau of Justice Assistance
• National Institute of Justice
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
• Office for Victims of Crime
• Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART)

Due to his commitment to global development, in 2019, United Nations Global Compact approved his organization (Aerospace Palace International) as a participating company in order to pursue two complementary goals: (1) internalize the ten principles within the company’s strategies, policies and operations and (2) undertake projects to advance the broader development goals of the United Nations, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals. This is Corporate sustainability starts with a company’s value system and a principles-based approach to doing business. This means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Responsible businesses enact the same values and principles wherever they have a presence, and know that good practices in one area do not offset harm in another. By incorporating the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, companies are not only upholding their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.

Abiodun has been at the forefront of promoting the ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact are derived from: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Human Rights

Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour

Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;

Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and

Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment

Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and

Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

Anti-Corruption

Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Abiodun’s three organisations are his sources of motivations and were created with the same objectives but using different platforms to:

1. Inspire an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects and in STEM careers among young people;
2. Provide an educational opportunity for students, teachers and the general public to learn about space exploration, space technologies and satellite communications;
3. Provide an educational opportunity for students, teachers and the general public to learn about wireless technology and radio science through Amateur Radio
4. Provide an opportunity for Amateur Radio experimentation and evaluation of new technologies.
5. Provide a contingency communications system for NASA and the ISS crew.
6. Provide crew with another means to directly interact with a larger community outside the ISS, including friends and family.

Currently, his online STEM and Aerospace Micro-Lessons is being adopted in Uganda and other developing countries of the world. This is also available on canvas infrastructure network and Udemy e-learning platform.

Abiodun is an Aerospace journalist of international repute; he studied Data journalism, Investigative Reporting, Multimedia story-telling, Verification, Geo-Journalism and Digital Security at StoryLab Academy, Kenya in conjunction with the World Bank. He also obtained various certificates in Engineering, sciences, humanities and education. He Coordinates the activities of his organization and assigns work as appropriate; occasionally he designs the software, Google play apps and websites. He obtained various teaching certificates from the National Universities Commission, Nigeria as a certified educator, especially on the traditional and modern methods of teaching and learning.

Abiodun is a member of the following professional bodies: Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS), EuroScience France, European Space Board France, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Royal Aeronautical Society UK. Space Exploration Group Project (SEGP), Astronomers without Borders USA, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, International Women of Aviation Organisation, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) USA, Society of Satellite Professional International (SSPI) USA.

In January 2018, Abiodun became the first Nigerian to be appointed by the Space Foundation, USA as a Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons Flight 15-18!  “The Space Foundation, USA selected Ogunbiyi Abiodun, the Founder of Aerospace Palace Academy, Nigeria as one of the 31 Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons Flight 15-18! He was publicly recognized at the Space Foundation's 34th Space Symposium, which was held April 16-19 2018 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA. In addition to the recognition activities, he is also scheduled to participate in the Space Foundation's virtual distance delivery education programs. This is the first time that a Nigerian would be selected for such a prestigious award; In this capacity Abiodun serves as advocate for space-themed education and use Space Foundation-provided training and resources to further integrate space principles into the classrooms in Nigeria. He was chosen for his active promotion of space and science education in the classroom. He was selected by a panel comprised of experienced Teacher Liaisons and representatives from the space industry and the military.

Due to his research and developmental projects in Africa; recently in the year 2017, the US government gave his organisation the permission to start transacting businesses with US government, organisations and agencies under the following identities: DUNS Number: 561294431, NCAGE Number: SCLP2, and System Awards Management Registration: SAMAPINProd01.

For over 15 years, Abiodun has been a force to be reckoned with in the Space communication, Aviation, Aerospace and space sector with numerous partnerships as delineated on his website www.erospacepalace.com.ng.  He has succeeded in establishing partnership with American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, USA and granted permission to implement the Aerospace Micro-Lesson in Nigerian schools. Also, he has succeeded in establishing partnership with Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS) as a result of which his organization has been shortlisted as a candidate for the implementation of the Nigerian version of the space radio station later in the year 2018. This project is designed to bring aerospace & STEM education a step closer to the Nigerian youths.

Through collaboration with NASA and NASA sponsored researchers, Abiodun has created an educational mini-curriculum for the high school or middle school classroom that engages students as research assistants, providing data for the Principal Investigator, (PI).  Currently, we have a collaborative relationship with several NASA or NASA supported researchers.  The program is delivered and managed via our Website; each teacher being assigned a password protected page for management and program delivery. During the mission students briefly learn about the scientist and their research, participate in classroom experiments or activity that mirrors the research experiment on the ISS, and then do some type of an analysis and data gathering activity.   These hands-on inquiry-based activities are supported by near-real time digital and video images downlinked from orbit and provided to the classroom via our website. Also provided are real time images of a control ground experiment being conducted by BioServe Space Technologies, a NASA Research Partnership at the University of Colorado or elsewhere. Student research supports the work of the PI, while meeting the educational goals of the classroom and final student data is provided to the PI for review and, if appropriate, inclusion into research databanks.

In the past, he has succeeded in introducing SMS PRO safety Aviation management into Nigerian Aerospace market: SMS Pro is integrated Safety Management System (SMS) software, with in-depth reporting and analysis modules, specifically designed for an aviation application; it is a Web-based aviation safety management system tool that allows operators and airports to manage their safety, security, compliance and quality issues based on ICAO, IS-BAO, Transport Canada and FAA requirements and advisory material. SMS Pro is an integrated solution that facilitates aviation operations by increasing the efficiency of business processes, improving service delivery to meet goals and objectives and improving operational and management reporting. Since SMS Pro is a Web-based application it ensures information sharing across the organization. SMS Pro allows easy, real-time report generation, automated alerts, and varying levels of transparency based on organizational culture.

Abiodun is an exceptional and passionate young man who generously deploys his time, efforts and wealth of motivational skills and experiences in aiding the younger generations to find their footing on issues of nation-building, responsible citizenship, and good leadership. He has been involved in social works and community development initiatives. He has been a very active, young community leader. He has been involved in series of community and social development initiatives, including but not limited to, mentoring of the younger generations of Nigerians, especially through a widely known radio program “I Have a Dream”.

Abiodun formed his organization because around the globe, particularly in developing countries, women lack opportunities to obtain the education that they so desperately need and deserve. Cultural stigmas, religious restrictions, and oppressive laws keep women trapped in desperate poverty and ignorance, unable to obtain the education that might give them hope. History has shown time and again that educating girls provides benefits to the economies of nations. In many cases, changes in cultural attitudes and the legal status of women have resulted in economic benefits that break the cycle of centuries of poverty in just a single generation. Like the proverbial rising tide, the flood of newly educated citizens, inevitably lifts all boats. Lack of funds for education, access to information resources, gender discrimination, family pressure and cultural biases against women pursuing careers in STEM fields must be addressed if this inequity is to be addressed successfully.

Abiodun's organizations' philosophy is built around three core values:

(1) Innovation: To help developing nations meet the technological demands of the 21^st century, providing an innovative way to foster the skills necessary to bring about the necessary changes. We use multidisciplinary STEM learning tools such as rocket kits, aircraft kits and other hands-on tools to provide students with real-world experiences that expose them to technical subjects and creative problem solving.

(2) International Cooperation: People and cultures around the world can make valuable contributions to the lives of all people. When individuals from differing cultural and geographical backgrounds meet and cooperate toward common goals, they create a powerful synergy. An international exchange of diverse knowledge, skills, and cultures can cause world-changing things to happen. This exchange starts with the more advanced nations sharing their technology and skills with the developing world. The outcome is a world where all nations have a chance to prosper, benefitting both the haves and the have-nots by reducing dependence.

(3) Equity and Empowerment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): We seek gender equality in education for females across all parts of society in every part of Nigeria and the world at large. We believe that girls have a right not only to basic education but to advanced education in STEM. To correct this all-too-common inequality, we believe we must provide resources and programs that enable, encourage, and support women’s educational opportunities in STEM and that integrate young women and young men into a mutually supportive educational environment. For these reasons, we give preference to young women in our STEM Workshops, conferences, seminars and training.