Nelly-Helen Ebruka

Nelly-Helen Ebruka is a PhD candidate in Politics at the University of Manchester, where her research focuses on Africa–Europe space cooperation on Earth Observation (EO) technology.  Her work traces the  historical evolution  of EO projects jointly supported by African and European space actors and thier impact on the African space programme. She holds a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Apart from her research at UoM, she's also the adminstrator of the Manchester Jean Monneth Centre of Excellence.

A committed  space advocate, Nelly-Helen was named among the Top 10 Under 30 Young Innovators in the African space industry by Space in Africa (2020). She is also a recipient of the African Space Leadership Award (2021) and the Space Generation Leadership Award (2024), recognising her contributions to advancing Africa’s space sector youth engagement.

Beyond academia, she is deeply committed to capacity building and outreach. She co-founded the Learn Space Foundation,(LSF)  in 2019 after attending her first IAC. The NGO promotes space education for young people in Nigeria, and has organised numerous outreach programmes for public schools across southern Nigeria. Notably, the organisation recently played a key role in the partnership between Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA) to send the a Nigerian citizen to space.

At the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), she previously volunteered  as National Point of Contact for Nigeria, where she coordinated events and built a vibrant network of young space enthusiasts in collaboration with university clubs such as the Obafemi Awolowo University Space Club, the Lagos State University Space Club, and the Federal University of Technology Akure Space Club. She then became the  as Regional Coordinator for Africa at SGAC between September 2023- January 2026, where she contributed to  youth engagement in space and regional initiatives across the continent.

She is also the host of Space Dialogue with Nelly (SDSwN), a virtual series under Spacehubs Africa, where she engages experts in conversations on critical issues shaping Africa’s space industry. In this role, she develops and disseminates strategic promotional content that strengthens visibility and collaboration within Africa’s growing space ecosystem.

Nelly-Helen is passionate about advancing the discourse on disarmament and the peaceful uses of outer space. She speaks regularly at local and international platforms advocating for responsible space governance particulary through regional initiatives

Through her research and advocacy, she aims to contribute to the advancement of Africa’s outer space programme and foster equitable, sustainable international partnerships in the global space arena.

Africa-EU relations, International Politics of Space, Science Diplomacy, Africa International Relations,  Space Governance 

1. Member, Bristish International Studies Association
2. Member,International Political Science Student Association. 
3. Member, International Institute of Space Law
4. Member, Nigerian Bar Association 

Supervisors

1. Professor Toni Haastrup
2. Dr Carl Death