UNILAG @ 50: Don Urges Nigeria to Embrace Geospatial Solutions for National Growth
Emeritus Professor Francis Fajemirokun, OON, has called on the Federal Government and stakeholders to adopt geospatial solutions as critical tools for addressing national challenges and driving sustainable development.
UBA CHIDINMA 
Emeritus Professor Francis Fajemirokun, OON, has called on the Federal Government and stakeholders to adopt geospatial solutions as critical tools for addressing national challenges and driving sustainable development. The veteran surveyor delivered this charge during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Professor Rahamon Bello Hall.
Speaking on the theme Geospatial Solutions: A Sine Qua Non to National Development, Professor Fajemirokun highlighted the transformative potential of geospatial technologies in addressing issues such as urban planning, food security, disaster management, and national defense. He lamented the lack of significant action in advancing geospatial solutions in Nigeria and advocated for increased investment, capacity building, public-private partnerships, and the utilization of local technologies to unlock the field's full potential.
“If well explored, geospatial solutions can help address problems around smart cities, climate change, insecurity, and prudent resource management,” he asserted, adding that Nigeria has the tools and resources to achieve significant advancements in these areas.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Samson Adeosun, speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, commended the contributions of surveyors to national development. He affirmed UNILAG’s commitment to promoting geospatial solutions as a key driver of progress in Nigeria.
Acting Head of the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Dr. Emeka Epuh, expressed gratitude to alumni for their support and called for continued collaboration to address critical departmental needs.
The anniversary celebration also featured goodwill messages, award presentations to distinguished contributors, and reflections on the department's evolution since its establishment as a sub-department of Civil Engineering in 1970.
This milestone event reinforced the pivotal role of surveying and geoinformatics in shaping national development and underscored the need for Nigeria to harness geospatial innovations to build a sustainable future. https://unilag.edu.ng/?p=45567
