By Joy Odor
The Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGOF), Surv. Abuduganiyu Adebomehin, has issued a stern warning to the African Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST), declaring that the school risks a total overhaul if it continues to churn out graduates with only theoretical Geographic Information System (GIS) knowledge instead of practical problem-solving skills in surveying.
Adebomehin, who also chairs AFRIGIST’s Governing Council, dropped the bombshell after listening to three graduates present their final projects at his Abuja office on Thursday.
He insisted that the institution, originally established by the United Nations to address Africa’s geospatial challenges, must return to its core mission, training experts capable of tackling real-world community problems.
“You are not solving surveying problems if all you do is learn the rudiments of GIS,” Adebomehin declared. “Graduating students must identify real problems in surveying, develop solutions, and even write programmes that can solve community challenges. If the lecturers are only Geography-based, then the institution will be overhauled because lecturers must not be teaching what they don’t know.”
He directed the school to urgently recruit professional surveyors to teach core disciplines like Geodesy and Hydrography, stressing that Africa cannot afford to run an institute that neglects its mandate. “AFRIGIST is not a normal school.
It was set up to solve problems the world struggles with. If it fails in that mission, it has no justification,” he warned.
The SGOF also emphasized the need to expand focus on Hydrography, noting that some staff may soon be posted to the National School of Hydrography, where inadequate training could expose serious institutional weaknesses.
One of the graduates, Surv. Tsenongo Manasseh, presented his thesis on flood risk assessment in Makurdi, advocating the use of real-time GIS-based monitoring systems powered by satellite data and IoT sensors, while also calling for stronger policy frameworks.
Another presenter, Adegboye Babajide Femi, Assistant Director in the Geodesy Department of OSGOF, urged for urban planning reforms that integrate green spaces to combat urban heat islands.
The event was witnessed by youth corps members, industrial trainees, young surveyors, and OSGOF management staff.
The Surveyor-General’s fiery remarks have set the stage for a possible shake-up at AFRIGIST, one that could redefine how Africa trains its geospatial scientists in an era of climate change, urban expansion, and cross-border environmental challenges.
