ACU Student, Oluwapelumi Aikomo, Shines at Global Surveyors’ Conference in South Africa

Oluwapelumi Aikomo, a 500-level student in the Department of Geo-informatics and Surveying at Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, is currently flying Nigeria’s flag high at the prestigious FIG (Federation of International Surveyors) Conference 2026, holding in Cape Town, South Africa.

Aikomo, who is attending the conference in a dual capacity, representing both Ajayi Crowther University and her country Nigeria, was invited to present a research paper before an audience of global surveying and geospatial experts. 

Her presentation, described by attendees as “exceptional” and a true reflection of excellence, has drawn significant praise and placed ACU on the international research map.

Aikomo, alongside co-authors Elufisan Tomilola and Tata Herbert, presented the abstract titled, “Towards Improved Geodetic Modelling: Prediction of Gravity Values Using Artificial Neural Networks in Akure, Nigeria.” And it explores how artificial intelligence can solve a long-standing challenge in geophysics.

In her study, Aikomo used a multi-layered Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict gravity values in Akure, a task traditionally hampered by sparse data and complex, non-linear relationships that conventional interpolation methods struggle to model. She collected data from 59 stations using a South GNSS instrument and a Lacoste & Romberg gravimeter, applying necessary corrections including latitude, drift, tide, free air, and Bouguer corrections.

Her ANN model, which incorporated 40 hidden layers, achieved promising results: a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.0286 mGal, a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.0220 mGal, and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.6269. While she acknowledged that the limited dataset constrains broader generalisation, she stressed that the findings demonstrate the feasibility of AI-based gravity prediction in Nigeria and called for denser gravity observations to improve robustness.

Back home, the Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, and her management team have already wished Oluwapelumi well, describing her as a worthy ambassador of the institution and a rising star in the field of geoinformatics.