Emeritus Professor of Surveying, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Emeritus Professor Francis Fajemirokun, OON, has charged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to embrace Geospatial Solutions as viable pathways to address critical national challenges and achieve meaningful national development.
He gave the charge while delivering the keynote lecture at the UNILAG Survey and Geoinformatics @ 50 special event which was held on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at the Professor Rahamon Bello Hall of UNILAG.
With the theme: Geospatial Solution: A Sine Qua Non to National Development, Emeritus Professor Fajemirokun’s presentation cautioned against the lip service being accorded geospatial solutions and called for action to unlock the numerous potentials in Geospatial practice. He also emphasized the need for all geospatial solutions to be tailored towards efficient resource management, adaptability to climate change and inclusivity.
The former Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Management Services (2005-2006), identified Surveying profession as a necessity in governance, national development and security. While recalling how the profession had always enjoyed its pride of place in Nigeria right from the pre-colonial years, he highlighted its gradual evolution in terms of practice, manpower production and domestic impacts.
According to him, geospatial solutions have propelled developmental strides in advanced countries and Nigeria could leverage on this especially with the abundance of space techniques as well as computer and information technologies which have revolutionized the surveying profession.
The keynote speaker challenged the federal government and relevant stakeholders to increase investments, promote public-private partnerships, ensure capacity building and leverage local technologies with a view to promoting geospatial solutions.
His words, “if well explored, geospatial solutions will help address problems around urban planning and smart cities, agriculture and food security, disaster management and climate change, insecurity and national defense as well as ensure prudent management of natural resources”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, UNILAG, Professor Samson Adeosun noted that “UNILAG has been at the forefront of advocating and recommending geospatial solutions in addressing national challenges”.
Prof Adeosun who also spoke on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, recognized and applauded the contributions of Surveyors to national development.
Similarly in his remarks, acting Head of Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Dr Emeka Epuh, appreciated the alumni body of the Department and solicited more support to meet some of its critical needs while also building a stronger network of alumni.
The UNILAG Survey and Geoinformatics @ 50 event also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders as well as presentation of awards to acknowledge and appreciate various distinguished individuals for their contributions towards the growth of the department and the profession.
The Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos began as a sub-department of Civil Engineering in 1970. Before then, the first set of four students had graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Surveying in 1967 having forcefully withdrawn from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in their final year and through a special arrangement with the Federal Surveys Department, moved to the Department of Civil Engineering in UNILAG to complete their studies.
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photography: Michael Joshua
