Nigerian Entrepreneur Builds $300K Space Intelligence Firm

When Temidayo Oniosun wanted to study aerospace engineering in Nigeria, he hit a wall: no university in the country offered it. So he chose meteorology instead and started building the space industry he wished existed.

As a student at Federal University of Technology, Akure in 2011, Oniosun didn't wait for opportunities to find him. He launched a space club, gathered curious students, and ran projects hunting for asteroids and launching high-altitude balloons.

Everything changed at a 2017 conference in Colorado Springs. Oniosun realized that while Africa had real space activity happening, from satellite launches to national programs, almost nobody knew about it.

After finishing his national service, Oniosun moved to Lagos in early 2018 and launched Space in Africa. The perfect domain name, spaceinafrica.com, cost $3,000 he didn't have, so he bought a cheaper alternative and started writing. He spent three years building revenue before he could afford to buy the name he'd wanted from the start.

The early days were tough. Publishing articles brought important readers but little money, and a subscription model that worked in the US and Europe fell flat in Africa. By 2019, only a handful of people were paying monthly fees.

Then Oniosun tried something nobody had done before: a comprehensive industry report. The team documented which African countries had satellites, how their space agencies worked, and where funding came from. At $2,000 per copy, it was a gamble.

It paid off. Companies snapped up the report, with some buying premium packages that included strategy sessions for $5,000. In 2019, Space in Africa generated roughly $20,000 in revenue and became the industry's trusted source.

The pandemic stalled growth in 2020, but Oniosun pushed forward. In 2021, Space in Africa expanded into consulting, using its data and market knowledge to advise governments and private companies. The company's first major project helped the African Union Commission plan the establishment of the African Space Agency.

That year, revenue hit $300,000.

Why This Inspires

Oniosun's story shows how one person's determination can shine a light on an entire industry. He didn't just chase his passion; he created infrastructure that helps others understand and invest in Africa's space sector. By making the invisible visible, he's helping governments make better decisions and opening doors for the next generation of African space enthusiasts.

Today, Space in Africa stands as proof that you can build something meaningful even when the path doesn't exist yet. You just have to be willing to create it yourself.