The Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji has called on stakeholders and the public to fully embrace the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI).
Speaking at the NGDI workshop aimed at reviewing and harmonising the national geoinformation policy and NGDI Bill, organised by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja, Nnaji emphasised the pivotal role NGDI plays in shaping the future of Nigeria’s geospatial landscape and fostering a thriving ecosystem.
Represented by his special adviser on technical matters, Prof. Nnanyereugo Ikemonso, Nnaji underscored the transformative vision outlined in President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, asserting that geospatial data is instrumental in driving the nation’s growth, resilience and prosperity.
The NGDI, Nnaji noted, is crucial for monitoring progress, facilitating mapping and environmental monitoring and mitigating risks in marine environments. He highlighted the agenda’s focus on key pillars such as employment creation, local manufacturing, innovation, agriculture, infrastructure modernisation and empowerment, stressing the need for accessible healthcare, education and housing.
Moreover, Nnaji emphasised NGDI’s significance in enhancing response capabilities to marine incidents, supporting space-based technologies, enabling telemedicine for national health coverage, facilitating precision agriculture and water resource management and fostering innovative geospatial applications that drive economic growth.
During the workshop, which spanned four days, Nnaji expressed optimism about the outcomes, including the development of a revised policy framework and operational strategies to sustain the NGDI ecosystem. He called for coherence between the Geoinformation Policy and NGDI Bill, the establishment of a geoinformation lobby group and the revitalisation of the pilot NGDI portal with pertinent data.
In his keynote address, the pioneer national coordinator of the NGDI secretariat, Dr. Ganiyu Agbaje emphasised NGDI’s objective of harmonising and standardising geospatial data production and management, enabling data sharing, and improving decision-making processes. He stressed the need for a robust infrastructure to support NGDI, enhancing access to data for national development.
Echoing Agbaje’s sentiments, the director of NASRDA, Dr. Halilu Shaba highlighted NGDI’s potential to contribute to economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability. He emphasised the importance of the National Geoinformation Policy and NGDI bill in harnessing the benefits of NGDI for national development programs.
The workshop also saw contributions from Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu who underscored the importance of investing in data creation to address security challenges and climate change issues. He emphasised the need for cooperation in addressing innovation and technology challenges.
The call to embrace NGDI for national growth and environmental sustainability resonates across sectors, highlighting the critical role of geospatial data in driving development agendas. With concerted efforts and collaboration, Nigeria stands poised to harness the transformative power of NGDI, paving the way for a prosperous and sustainable future.
