The Nigerian Cartographic Association (NCA) has called for the adoption of advanced cartographic practices to accelerate national progress in mining, governance, poverty alleviation, and security.
President of the association, Prof. Momoh Lawal Rilwani, made the call in Abuja at the 46th International Conference, Workshop, and Annual General Meeting of the NCA, themed “Geo-Spatial Intelligence Mapping for Governance, Poverty Alleviation, and Security Management.”
Rilwani stressed that accurate cartographic data is indispensable for sustainable development, noting that maps are critical tools for urban planning, infrastructure growth, disaster management, resource exploration, agriculture, and tourism.
“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 living maps—dynamic tools that shape planning, mining, and development,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, the Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Olumide Adepoju, underscored the relevance of cartography in Nigeria’s space and mining sectors.
Also, Leader of Women-in-Cartography (WIC), Dr. Chinasa Uttah, called for increased female participation in the profession, pointing out that geospatial intelligence presents vast opportunities for women as researchers, innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.
The Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Yahaya Abubakar, who also spoke at the event, highlighted his lifelong passion for map reading, recalling its value during his military service.
He added that proper cartography remains vital in addressing land and boundary disputes that often trigger communal conflicts.