HON. NASIR ISA KWARRA HONOURED AS FELLOW OF GEOINFORMATION SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, fnsa has been awarded the prestigious Fellow Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (FGEOSON) title. The investiture ceremony took place during the 2024 GEOSON Annual General Assembly and Conference Dinner Night at the Armed Forces Officers Mess in Asokoro, Abuja, on November 20, 2024.

This esteemed Fellowship recognizes Hon. Kwarra’s unwavering dedication and significant contributions to the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria. GEOSON is a professional organization dedicated to promoting collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing among professionals, researchers, and students in the field.

In his remarks, Surv. (Dr.) Fitka Bilshakka, President of GEOSON, commended Kwarra for his steadfast support and advocacy in enhancing geospatial data generation and utilization. ‘As Chairman of NPC, Hon. Kwarra has demonstrated exceptional leadership, spearheading initiatives that promote geospatial technologies and data-driven decision-making. His vision for a digital and sustainable census is truly commendable,’ he noted.

Hon. Kwarra expressed gratitude for the honour and praised GEOSON's leadership for organizing such pivotal events that foster dialogue and collaboration within the geospatial technology sector. He highlighted the conference theme, “Leveraging Geospatial Technologies for Integrated National Development,” emphasizing its relevance in addressing current challenges and anticipating future needs.

Kwarra underscored the essential role accurate demographic and geospatial data play in promoting sustainable national development, revealing that the Commission has established a robust geospatial framework, leveraging Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies.

"The Commission is preparing for the upcoming Population and Housing Census, having conducted extensive Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), also known as Census Mapping," he explained. "This initiative involved delineating Nigeria's entire land area into smaller units called Enumeration Areas (EAs), along with building numbering and household listings."

He further stressed that the EAD process has generated critical geospatial datasets crucial for urban planning, resource allocation, and policy formulation. These datasets, he noted, will be invaluable to GEOSON members and other stakeholders within the geospatial ecosystem.

Under Hon. Kwarra leadership, NPC has achieved significant milestones, including the generation of the largest volume of geospatial data in Africa and the launch of the National Geospatial Repository Database - an electronic portal that warehouses national geographic data.

Hon. Kwarra was accompanied by Federal Commissioners and Directors during the ceremony to receive this distinguished Fellowship award. Notable recipients of the GEOSON Fellowship include Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji; and Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Surv. Adamu Adaji, among others.