The Nigerian Cartographic Association (NCA), yesterday, emphasised the importance of advanced cartographic practices in driving progress in mining, governance, poverty alleviation, and national security.
President of NCA, Prof. Momoh Lawal Rilwani, disclosed this in Abuja at the 46th International Conference, Workshop, and Annual General Meeting of NCA, themed “Geo-Spatial Intelligence Mapping for Governance, Poverty Alleviation, and Security Management.”
Rilwani said accurate cartographic data remains indispensable for Nigeria’s sustainable development. He emphasised that maps are essential tools in national development, offering spatial data critical to urban planning, infrastructure development, disaster management, resource management, agriculture and tourism, among others.
He said: “Cartography is the art and science of representing geographic areas through maps or charts. Without maps, identifying resource locations and making data-driven decisions is impossible. Our goal is to produce maps that are alive, not static, maps that can shape planning, mining, and development.”
Rilwani noted that cartography underpins urban planning, infrastructure development, disaster management, resource exploration, agriculture, and tourism. He added that the NCA hosts yearly international workshops to expose professionals to emerging technologies and enhance the quality of maps produced in Nigeria.
Representing the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr Matthew Olumide Adepoju, highlighted the role of cartography in Nigeria’s space and mining ecosystems.
Also speaking, the Leader of Women-in-Cartography (WIC), Dr Chinasa Uttah, called for greater female participation in the field, stressing that geospatial intelligence offers opportunities for women as researchers, innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.
In his remarks, the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Yahaya Abubakar, revealed his lifelong passion for map reading, recalling its importance during his military service. He stressed that proper cartography remains critical in resolving land and boundary disputes that often fuel communal crises.
