Calvin Menttor's Diary
…and suddenly, I woke up early in the morning just to realize that I was in Lagos on 8th October. Ask yourself what brought me here? Hehehehe… Of course, State of the Map Nigeria Conference 2024. Well, well, my journey was tiring but adventurous as well. Now, let’s double our steps to catch up with other activities. It’s a movie. Oh, sorry, it’s a story. You might need a glass of chilled water. Probably!
Welcome to Nigeria!
Attending the State of the Map Nigeria conference was a transformative experience. It allowed me to engage with professionals, volunteers, and fellow YouthMappers from diverse backgrounds, all sharing a common goal: to expand the OpenStreetMap (OSM) community and use mapping to solve real-world challenges. As a mapping enthusiast and a YouthMapper from Ghana, this opportunity strengthened my belief in the power of open mapping to drive local development and making communities resilient.
Imagine stepping into a gathering where the future of mapping and technology converges. As young innovators, geospatial professionals, and passionate mappers from across Nigeria come together with a shared purpose—to explore the transformative power of maps using AI. This was the scene at the 2024 State of the Map Nigeria Conference, where participants not only came to learn but to contribute, share their ideas, visions, and expertise to advance the geospatial field.
At exactly 7:00pm the welcome mapping party began hosted by myself. Arriving at the venue on the first day, I couldn’t help but feel the energy from the young professionals and new faces, eager to dive into the world of OpenStreetMap. I had the pleasure of introducing “new babies” to essential tools like ID Editor, JOSM, and HOT Tasking Manager, which sparked excitement as they embarked on their mapping journey. Many of the participants were new to OSM, and I was truly happy to guide those without accounts through the registration process, helping them take their first steps into this vast world of open geospatial data.
This was just the beginning of the day-one exploration into the transformative power of AI, drones, and open geospatial technologies, designed to address the Sustainable Development Goals. However, this was a platform for collaboration and discovery, a place where technology would meet real-world challenges. The theme—AI-Assisted Mapping, Drone and Open Geospatial for SDGs—perfectly captured the spirit of the event. It invited us to look forward, to thinking about how artificial intelligence and drone technology could revolutionize the way we address global issues like urban development, disaster response, and environmental sustainability.
Si….p, si….p your chilled water. Day 2 of the Conference kicked off with an inspiring opening address from Dr. Victor Sunday, the National Coordinator of Unique Mappers Network. His words were a rallying call to action, urging participants to fully immerse themselves in the conference as they explored new pathways in geospatial technologies. He emphasized the need to look beyond the present and envision how these technologies can transform the future, particularly in relation to sustainable development.
The workshops that followed were packed with insight and forward-thinking ideas. Prof. Kamorudeen Folorunso Aleem started the session on Open Geospatial, AI Technologies, and Geospatial Data Policies in Nigeria. He discussed the profound implications these technologies hold for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. The integration of AI in mapping and geospatial data collection, he explained, could dramatically enhance accuracy and accessibility, especially in underserved areas.
An enlightening and reviving presentation was delivered by Prof. Lazarus Mustapha Ojigi, the Executive Director/Professor of Geomatics at the African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science & Technology (AFRIGIST). He spoke on Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Geospatial Mapping and Modelling Techniques for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa, explored the transformative impact of AI on geospatial practices across the continent.
He then provided an in-depth analysis of the current status of mapping in Nigeria and highlighted the potential for AI-based geospatial solutions to overcome existing challenges. Detailing various AI tools and platforms that are now available for mapping, he spoke about their applicability in data collection, processing, and predictive modeling for development projects. I would have regretted it for meeting this man! He aslo stated AI’s contributions to the geoinformatics field, including improvements in data continuity, integrity, accessibility, and security and how AI simplifies data handling by making it more convenient and reliable.
He left us with a powerful vision for the future, emphasizing that by harnessing AI in geospatial fields, African countries can significantly advance their sustainable development agendas with higher precision and effectiveness. This insightful presentation set the gap for further discussions on AI and geospatial technology throughout the conference.
Next, Prof. Andrew A. Obafemi addressed a critical issue in his talk on the Availability, Quality, and Currency of Maps and its Implications for Achieving SDGs in Nigeria. He highlighted the importance of up-to-date and reliable maps in tackling pressing developmental challenges, urging the OSM community to focus on data quality to drive impactful results.
One of the standout sessions of the day came from Madam Adeola Akinwal, who presented on Empowering Communities through Drone-Assisted Mapping: A Pathway to Women-Inclusivity and Sustainable Development. Her presentation covered how drones are being used not just for technical mapping, but also as a tool for gender inclusivity, providing women with opportunities to participate in and lead mapping initiatives that promote sustainable growth. hehehehehee….this is when YouthMappers Everywhere She Maps project comes in–I was just smiling and my inner peace was happy hearing the insightful presentation from her, emphasizing the bases of empowering girls to take up roles. My mind was like… Everywhere She Maps… there’s Innovation happens, Lives are saved, prosperity rises, security improves, and Power is generated, but can’t say these loud these to the crowd.😂
Rounding off the day was a practical session led by Sena G. Adimou and Hubert O. Yadjemi on Downloading and Streaming Data from the DE Africa Sandbox to QGIS. This hands-on workshop equipped us with the skills to access high-quality geospatial data using the DE Africa platform, further enhancing our capacity to contribute to sustainable development projects across the continent. A group photo was taken to wrap up day 2. Omo, we don close nau…
Day 3 was a blend of emotions (excitement and emotional) as we had academic presentations, workshops, and thoughtful discussions. It started with the review of Sterling Umoren’s academic paper on Pavement Condition Analysis, which provided an insightful look into the methods and importance of assessing road conditions for infrastructure development and maintenance. The workshops proceeded in full force, with Hajar El Ouafi on mapping with MapRoulette, a mapping tool for tasking and improving OpenStreetMap data. Participants learned how to break down large mapping projects into smaller, and more manageable tasks to contribute to OSM.
One of the highlights of the day was a Lightning Talk by Justice Erhiaway, who explored the transformative role of AI in mapping. His talk provided us with a glimpse into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the field of geospatial data collection and analysis, offering opportunities to increase accuracy and efficiency in mapping projects.
The 3-day conference ended with GIS and drone workshops. The sessions included practical demonstrations of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) Change Detection, Modeling, and Prediction, led by Emmanuel PeterJay. These workshops provided us with skills, equipping us with tools to address environmental and developmental challenges through geospatial technologies.
This has been an inspiring and memorable experience, enriched not only by groundbreaking insights and networking but also by the warm cultural immersion that Nigeria so generously offered–Oh no… hold on. Let me introduce my Uber driver to you all… It was fascinating introducing OpenStreetMap, JOSM and Mapillary to my Uber driver and even the fact that he was so curious to know more about what, how and who uses these platforms. I could see he’s an open-minded guy with such an adorable sense of humor–he even followed openstreetmap on X (twitter) hehehehe….
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Victor Sunday for his invaluable support and mentorship, to the Unique Mappers Network for their sponsorship that made this opportunity possible, and to each of the sponsors whose contributions have made the conference a success. To the technical team and all supporting teams, thank you for your dedication, commitment and teamwork.
Beyond the sessions, I was delighted to explore local Nigerian cuisine, and I have to say that the experience of savoring Semovita with Egusi Soup and Stew added another layer of enjoyment to my stay in Nigeria. However, as we carry forward the knowledge, connections, and inspiration from this gathering, let us remember these experiences and continue advancing our shared mission for sustainable development and also keep the volunteering spirit alive while impacting humanity and our communities. Believe, Belong, Become! Unforgettable memories! WE DON`T JUST MAP…!
Akpe. Thank you
