SIWES Diary – Day 1 Date: 2nd September, 2025 Organization: Unique Mappers Network, Nigeria National Office: Suite 7, Mapathon Center, UNIPORT Mall, Abuja Campus, University of Port Harcourt

Activities:

-Reported to the National Office of Unique Mappers Network and settled into the Mapathon Center.

-Was introduced to the organization’s vision, mission, and the role of open mapping in sustainable development.

-Met fellow IT students including Favour, Alexander and Salvation, who are also undergoing their internship.

-Created an OpenStreetMap account and was tasked to locate my community and count the number of buildings. Many buildings were not visible, so using aerial imagery and my local knowledge, I edited the map by adding missing buildings.

-Since the office router had no internet subscription, I used my personal data for mapping and contributions.

-Received four major tasks for the internship period:

1. Watch the video “The Magic of Maps and Mapping” (YouTube link-https://youtu.be/5MyCtvSBATI?si=g6TM60pmY_oolnT) and reflect on how mapping can be applied to geology.

2. Work on mapping buildings in my community, since the area is not yet globally visible on OpenStreetMap.

3. Research and design an open mapping project that addresses at least five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

4. Participate in research-related tasks assigned by the organization.

-Later in the day, I met the National Coordinator, Dr. Victor N. Sunday, who gave me a formal orientation. He emphasized the importance of my contributions and provided me with a WhatsApp link to join the National Community and Internship groups. Observations/Learning Points:

-Understood the operational structure of Unique Mappers Network and how it collaborates nationally on geospatial projects.

-Learned the importance of open data contribution to global platforms like OpenStreetMap.

-Gained awareness of how mapping activities can be linked to global goals such as climate action, sustainable cities, and quality education.

-Realized that resource limitations (like internet access) are common challenges in field mapping, but personal initiative can keep work moving.

Reflections:

-My first day was highly engaging and exposed me to both the challenges and opportunities in digital mapping. I felt motivated using my own knowledge to add value to OpenStreetMap, especially for my community. Meeting the Coordinator and other colleagues gave me a sense of belonging to a wider professional network.

-I look forward to exploring how mapping can be integrated into geological fieldwork and to carrying out my assigned tasks with commitment.