By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Angola’s National Space
Programme Management Office (GGPEN) has celebrated the contributions of women
leading the country’s growing space sector, recognising their role in advancing
science, technology and innovation as part of the nation’s space ambitions.
Marking African Women’s Day,
GGPEN paid tribute to the women working across the organisation in engineering,
law, administration, finance, management, telecommunications and space industry
specialisations, highlighting their contributions to the development of
Angola’s National Space Programme.
The agency said the
achievements of the national programme are the result of the dedication,
expertise and commitment of a multidisciplinary team of professionals whose
work continues to strengthen Angola’s position in Africa’s expanding space
sector.
Among those recognised was
Arminda José, a work psychologist with more than two decades of experience in
the telecommunications, information technology and communications sector. She
has played a key role in managing human resources for the National Space
Programme.
Reflecting on her career,
Arminda described a challenging period in which she assumed greater
responsibilities and viewed the experience as an opportunity for professional
growth.
"I had to do everything
right, present all the work on time, at the right time. Either I learned or I
gave up. But giving up is not in my vocabulary," she said.
According to GGPEN, her
experience demonstrates how resilience, discipline, organisation and
perseverance can help transform professional challenges into opportunities for
growth and leadership.
The agency also recognised
the contributions of Deputy Directors Vangiliya Filipe and Edna Silveira
Caposso, together with a team of specialists including Bruna Martin, Sara
Queiroz, Madalena Ndolumingo, Joaquina Kalandula, Lídia Nkula, Benilde Matano,
Ermeliana Soares, Branca Bernardo, Márcia Montez, Alice Pedro, Helga Rufino,
Teresa Sebastião, Marisa Bernardo, Patrícia da Costa, Alicia Narciso, Fabiana
André, Olinda Fischer, Wyhiala Lungoji, Sara Sardinha and Catarina Dias.
GGPEN noted that the team
represents a broad range of expertise supporting the development and
implementation of Angola’s space initiatives, with an average of ten years of
professional experience across multiple disciplines.
The organisation said the
diversity of skills within the agency demonstrates that science, technology and
innovation in the space sector continue to benefit from the talent, competence
and leadership of women.
The recognition comes as
Angola continues to expand its national space capabilities through investments
in satellite technologies, research, infrastructure and human capital
development.
According to GGPEN, the
progress achieved has positioned Angola among the five largest space programmes
on the African continent in 2026, reflecting the country’s growing role in
Africa’s space economy and its commitment to developing a competitive national
space industry.
