ABOUT UNIQUE MAPPERS NETWORK
Unique Mappers Network (UMT) is Nigeria’s leading OpenStreetMap and citizen science community, committed to humanitarian mapping, open data creation, youth empowerment, environmental sustainability, and community-driven geospatial innovation. Since inception, UMT has mobilized thousands of volunteers across universities, communities, and institutions to map for impact.
1. GOVERNANCE, COORDINATION & COMMUNITY GROWTH
1.1 National Coordination & Planning
The year opened with the Unique Mappers OSM Nigeria / SotMNigeria2025 Coordination Meeting held in January, setting strategic priorities for community growth, partnerships, and preparations toward State of the Map Nigeria 2025.
1.2 Major Announcement: SotMNigeria2025 Host City
In January, it was officially announced that Enugu State will host the State of the Map Nigeria 2025 Conference, scheduled for October 2025. This marked a major milestone for the Nigerian OpenStreetMap community.
Image 1: National Coordinator along with teammembers of the SotMNigeria 2025 Local Organising Committee during the courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor
Image 2: National Coordinator and the team of LoC handing over the conference official T-shirt to the DVC of the University of Nigeria
1.3 Community Engagement & Recognition
Throughout the year, Unique Mappers Network celebrated key community milestones including birthdays, weddings, NYSC Passing-Out Parades, book launches, and professional achievements of members strengthening our culture of community and belonging.
Image 3: National Coordinator Inducted as a Fellow in GEOSON
Image 4: Onyiyechi Okpala during her Book launch
Image 5: Our Pioneer Team Lead at UMT Uniport druing his wedding
Image 6: The National Coordinator during a Courtesy visit to our Communication Lead during his fathers funeral service
Image 7: (L-R) Our Communication Lead (Kingsley), Our Enugu Delegate (Obianulu) During thier final Passing out Parade from National Service
Image 8: Congrats to Dr. Ify Evangel Obim as a Doctoral Degree holder.
Image 9: Congratulations Dr Stephanie Ijeoma CEO General Conflict and Peace studies and women’ Development on your Doctoral award and convocation
2. AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS FOR 2024
2.1 Best Mapper of the Year
UMT proudly recognized Kingsley Amankwe as Best Mapper of the Year, honoring outstanding dedication to mapping excellence, community empowerment, humanitarian response, and sustainable development.
2.2 Best Volunteer of the Year
Justice Erhiawaye was honored as Best Volunteer of the Year for exceptional commitment, leadership, and impactful volunteerism within the Unique Mappers Network.
3. DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE & MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION
3.1 Launch of New Website
In January, UMT officially launched its redesigned website: www.uniquemappers.org, enabling: – Membership registration – Mapathon center and chapter creation – Donations and fundraising – Access to programs, campaigns, and updates
3.2 Volunteer Recruitment & Orientation
UMT issued multiple calls for volunteers nationwide, onboarding new members through orientation sessions, OpenStreetMap account registration, and structured volunteer pathways.
4. MAPPING PROJECTS & MAPATHONS
4.1 Monthly & National Mapathons
UMT reactivated its Monthly Mapathon Program, running from March to September, engaging volunteers across multiple states and universities.
Image 10: LionMappers Team, Enugu Campus on their Mapathon resumption
Image 11: Impact Made in 2025
4.2 Humanitarian & Global Mapping Campaigns
Key mapping initiatives included: – Let’s Map Sudan for humanitarian response, Mapping Missing Roads in Kano, Mapping Makurdi infrastructure, Mapping Katsina-Ala during UMT@8 celebrations, OSM Africa Mapathons (Burundi, Botswana), TomTom’s Mapping Challenge (Mapping and Validation Campaign)
These activities strengthened Nigeria’s contribution to global OpenStreetMap data.
5. EDUCATION, TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING
5.1 GIS & Geospatial Training Programs
UMT delivered multiple training programs including: – Free Basic QGIS Training (BQT) – Basic ArcGIS Training (BAT) – GIS Masterclass (Virtual & In-Person) – Newbies Orientation & Mapathon Trainings with partner universities
Certificates and training materials were provided to participants.
Image 12: July Geospatial Community Empowerment Session
Image 13: July GCE Review Session
5.2 Internship & Mentorship Programs
UMT opened IT and Graduate Internship positions, engaging five interns in hands-on mapping, community coordination, and IT support roles for the period of six months.
Image 14: Undergraduate Interns during the UNIPORT 35th anniversary
Image 15: Interns during a mapathon session
Image 16: Interns attending Nigerian Environmental Society (Rivers State Chapter) Event during the World Pollution Day
6. GENDER, YOUTH & SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAMS
6.1 End Female Genital Mutilation Campaign
In February, UMT joined the global campaign to end FGM, hosting school outreaches, keynote talks, mapathons, and panel sessions in Port Harcourt. The initiative was led by Mrs. Amaka Harrison-Aja, Gender Program Lead.
Image 17: Webinar Session held during the International day of zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
Image 18: School Outreach at Orbit Montessori School and Brynno International School, Port Harcourt
Image 19: School Outreach at a public school in Rivers State
Image 20: School Outreach at Brynno International School, Rivers State
6.2 International Women’s Day 2025
UMT hosted IWD 2025 under the theme “Let’s Accelerate Action for Women’s Equality & Empowerment”, featuring panels, open mapping sessions, women-led business showcases, and SDG-focused discussions.
Image 21: IWD main session
Image 22: Our Gender Program Associate for 2025 taking the IWD Posture
7. ENVIRONMENTAL & CITIZEN SCIENCE INITIATIVES
7.1 Leave No Trash & One Million Acts of Science
UMT led Nigeria’s participation in the #LeaveNoTrash University Challenge, emerging as a global leader with 64% participation, mobilizing multiple campuses and collecting over 22,000 pounds of trash. Leave No Trash University Challenge Unique Mappers Spotlight #LeaveNoTrash Challenge Global Blog
Image 23: Shout-out from SciStarter to UMT during the 2025 April 1Million act of Science engagement (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7320342613247557632)
UMT was recognized globally as: – Top Global Participation Group – Top Country Participation (Nigeria) – Global Top Volunteer: Kingsley Amankwe
7.2 World Cleanup Day & Earth Month
UMT actively participated in World Cleanup Day, and Earth Month, promoting environmental responsibility through mapping and data collection. Check out the coverage made during cleanup https://umap.hotosm.org/en/map/chatmap_1056#7/7.068/5.922. This visualization provides a comprehensive display of all locations from where waste was collected. Volunteers used ChatMap to capture and share photos and videos that are being used in data visualization and reporting.
8. STATE OF THE MAP NIGERIA 2025
The State of the Map Nigeria 2025 Conference continued with high-impact engagements on Day 2 and Day 3, showcasing the depth, diversity, and growing influence of Nigeria’s open mapping and geospatial community. Anchored on the theme “Open Mapping for Change, Community Empowerment and Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” the sessions demonstrated how open geospatial data is driving real-world solutions across sectors.
Day 2 featured inspiring keynote addresses and practical capacity-building workshops. Discussions focused on community empowerment, governance, innovation, and the expansion of OpenStreetMap across local and national boundaries. Participants also benefited from hands-on technical workshops in QGIS and ArcGIS, reinforcing skills for data-driven decision-making and community mapping. Video Coverage of Day 2 in Full
Day 3 brought the conference to a powerful close with forward-looking conversations on climate resilience, energy transition, open data innovation, citizen science, and applied geospatial research. The day included multiple paper presentations addressing environmental health, pollution, agriculture, water and sanitation, fire risk, and ecotourism, demonstrating the growing role of GIS and open data in academic research and sustainable development. Interactive workshops and the closing session further emphasized collaboration, innovation, and the future of open mapping in Nigeria. Video Coverage of Day 3 in Full
Collectively, Days 2 and 3 highlighted the strength of Nigeria’s geospatial ecosystem, bridging policy, research, technology, and community action, while reinforcing SotMNigeria2025 as a critical platform for learning, collaboration, and impact. Full conference sessions are now available on YouTube and via the official SotMNigeria2025 website.
Image 24: Day 1- Welcome Mapathon Party
Image 25: Day 1- Mapathon Session
Image 26: Quickshot with the DVC of the University of Nsukka on Day 2
9. PARTNERSHIPS & REPRESENTATION
UMT participated in multiple national and international meetings including: – Nigerian Cartographic Association (NCA), Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (GEOSON), OSM Africa, HOT, SciStarter.
9.1 Strengthening Partnerships and Institutional Engagements
In 2025, the Unique Mappers Network expanded its institutional footprint through strategic partnerships and regional mobilization efforts. Notable milestones included the mobilization of the Unique Mappers Benue community and the initiation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) process with Rev. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, aimed at fostering local capacity building and sustained academic collaboration.
UMN also formalized its partnership with Rivers State University (RSU) through the successful signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration was further strengthened by UMN’s participation in the Rivers State University Partners’ Breakfast Annual Program, reinforcing engagement with academic, industry, and development stakeholders.
Additionally, UMN provided technical and community support to the AFRIGIST Alumni Training Workshop, contributing to skills development and professional capacity building within the geospatial ecosystem.
10. ANNIVERSARY & COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS
10.1 UMT @ 8 Anniversary
UMT celebrated 8 years of impact, featuring: – Community storytelling campaign – Mapping challenges – Free geospatial empowerment programs – Online celebrations and appreciation messages
LOOKING AHEAD
As we move forward, Unique Mappers Network remains committed to empowering youth, strengthening open data ecosystems, advancing humanitarian mapping, and positioning Nigeria as a leader in global geospatial innovation.
Together, we keep mapping communities, empowering lives, and shaping a sustainable future.
© Unique Mappers Network | 2025
Foreword from the National Coordinator
Dear Community Members, Partners, and Friends of Unique Mappers Network,
As we reflect on the journey of 2025, I am filled with deep gratitude and pride in what we have collectively achieved as a community. This year was not merely about activities and events; it was about people, purpose, and the growing impact of open geospatial data in shaping more inclusive, resilient, and informed societies across Nigeria and beyond.
From grassroots mapping initiatives and capacity-building training to national engagements such as State of the Map Nigeria 2025, our work consistently demonstrated the power of collaboration and community-driven innovation. We strengthened partnerships, empowered youths and professionals, expanded humanitarian mapping efforts, and continued to advocate for open data as a tool for sustainable development, disaster response, and informed decision-making.
None of these milestones would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, the trust of our partners, the support of donors, and the enthusiasm of community members who continue to believe in the vision of Unique Mappers Network. Your commitment has transformed ideas into action and maps into meaningful impact.
As we look ahead, 2026 presents even greater opportunities to deepen our reach, scale our programs, and nurture the next generation of mappers, innovators, and change-makers. Together, we will continue to map not just places, but possibilities.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Warm regards,
Dr. Victor Sunday
National Coordinator
Unique Mappers Network
