By Samuel Sunday
Professor Johnson Abiodun Olatunji of the Ekiti State University has called on government officials to harness the power of geoinformatics and space-based technologies to drive national development.
Delivering the university’s 100th inaugural lecture at the University main campus on Tuesday, Professor Olatunji highlighted the critical role of geospatial intelligence in governance, disaster management, agriculture, and environmental protection.
In his lecture, titled “A Space to Explore, a Place to Protect, and a Race to Salvage: Geoinformatics and National Development,” the Professor emphasized that geoinformatics is no longer a luxury but a necessity for national planning and survival.
He identified at least 17 sectoral areas where GIS and remote sensing can be applied, including food security, agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and national security.
EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Joseph Babatola Ayodele, described the event as a defining moment, noting that it was the 15th inaugural lecture he had presided over in one and a half years. He stressed that research-driven knowledge is central to national development and that geoinformatics is essential for informed decision-making.
“Many international organizations and modern educational systems now depend on geography-based technologies for planning and decision-making,” Ayodele said. Adding that the lecture had broadened his understanding of geography, noting that it is often reduced to the study of physical features.
The event was attended by academics, students, traditional rulers, and government representatives, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the university, and the community,
Both Olatunji and Ayodele urged government officials to take concrete steps to harness geoinformatics for national development, reaffirming EKSU’s commitment to producing research that addresses Nigeria’s critical challenges.
