MY GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) JOURNEY

I am AKOR DANIEL ENECHOJO, an under graduate student of Geography Department, University of Nigeria Nsukka, a volunteer at humanitarian OpenStreetMap (HOTOSM), a member of the YouthMappers, Unique Mapper Network (UMN) and Lion Mappers Team(LMT) Nsukka Chapter. Due to my quest and passion for GIS and it application after my first and second semester GIS courses which I took at my undergraduate course modules, in the year 2020, I enrolled for a GIS training with Mr. Malachi Eze a GIS Expert and I also applied for GIS online courses which sharpen my knowledge of GIS and gave me an in-depth understanding of geospatial application into diverse field. June 2021, I came in contact with Mr. Anointing a GIS expert who introduce me to some tool of GIS, OSM and geospatial analysis during my Industrial Training (internship) at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Yola –Airport, I undertook some visual training with him (Mr. Anointing) during the training he recommended a visual seminar which I attended, Theme “World Youth Day”, it was so amazing, an eye opening workshop that led me to know about “Unique Mapper Network”, at the cause of the workshop I introduce myself and my interest to join the Unique Mapper Network which I was guided by Mr. Victor N. Sunday ( Team Coordinator) on how to join the team. Due to my passion for OSM, after the workshop I opted for Unique Mapper Network, am happy to be part of the member of organization.

On 27th of October, I had a visual meeting with the Mr. Victor N. Sunday he welcome me into the team (Unique Mapper Network) it was a nice orientation meeting for new members with focus on the aims and objective, mission and all the activities the organization does, the open opportunities and what to learn as a member of Unique Mapper Network which include practical GIS/Remote Sensing Training, Field data collection experience, Drone Pilot Training, SDGs Training, Career/Academic Mentorship, Citizen Science Engagement, Training Certification, Humanitarian Open street Map (HOTOSM) and lot others. Meanwhile, he (Mr. Victor .N. Sunday) introduce me to Lion Mapper Team Nsukka which I did not know about the Team because it is functioning for a while, the Team (LMT) was founded in 2018, headed by Surveyor R.U. Ayadiuno, and Dr. C.A Onyekwelu, Miss Prisca was the Team Leader and some persons who were elected as Excos to oversee the affairs of the Team (LMT Nsukka). The team created a whatsapp group where geospatial communication, Training and information will be coming across. Some months later, Mapping training on OpenStreetMap (OSM and HOT) was organized by the Team Leader and excos of Lion Mapper Network (LMT) Nsukka, at Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, student Volunteers came together to attend the training, it was hosted by Mr. Victor Sunday (Coordinator: Unique Mapper Network) to equip us with frontline practical mapping geospatial skills and in-depth understanding of the geospatial field. That moment I have spent with the Team have been moments of intensive learning, networking, e- learning and personal development.

Meanwhile on the 27 of November 2021, LionMapper Team hosted a training and orientation on community empowerment talk featuring LMT Membership, introduction to GIS, introduction to OSM, introduction HOT USA, introduction to Youthmappers USA, Student IT opportunities, Graduate internship, Citizen Science Projects, and other open opportunities in the industry for it new and old members, I was inaugurated as the Team Lead of LionMapperTeam UNN, Nsukka Chapter, the trainer for the event was Mr. Victor .N. Sunday, National Coordinator UniqueMappers Network Nigeria, HOT USA Voting Member and also Senior Mentor LMT Nsukka led the event and talk. The training open my eyes with in-depth insight to diverse application of GIS skills, OSM and HOT mapping, I learned a lot from the training workshop and how I can contribute my own quota to my local community, OpenStreetMapping and Humanitarian OpenStreetMap community, I presented on introduction to OpenstreetMap Organization (OSM) and HOT and Manager, which also contributed to my personal capacity building, learning quest and leadership skills and development.

MY PLANS AND EXPECTATION FOR LION MAPPERS TEAM NSUKKA (LMT) AS TEAM LEAD

My plans, vision and expectation is to strengthen Lion Mappers Team Nsukka chapter (LMT), to improve the team profile, with frontier skills, engage young volunteers from diverse fields and department of studies via intensive visual and physical training and workshop on NGO for Open Data Development, Mobile Data Collection, OpenStreetMap Nigeria Community, Citizen Science Projects, Open Source Geospatial, GeoForAll Lab, Flying Lab,Youth/Women Empowerment,SDGS, & Humanitarian Response, create online Mapathon via hotosm and public awareness and enlightenment of the team within the campus and its environs, publish articles to show case the strength of the team via social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, twitter, whatsapp etc.), make (LMT) a renounced and well known mapping team to which it can collaborate with Governmental agencies, NGOs, Private organization and individual in conducting geospatial research and analysis in solving environmental and societal problems.

Akor Daniel. E. Team Lead (LionMappersTeam,UNN, Nsukka Chapter)