The Governing Council on the African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AGRIGIST) has confirmed the appointment of Nigerian-born Professor Lazarus Mustapha Ojigi of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja as the Executive Director (ED)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AFRIGIS.
AFRIGIST, which has the Surveyor General of the Federation (SGoF), Surv. Abudulganiyu Adeyemi Adebomehin and Professor Aderemi Adediji as First and Second Representatives of the Nigerian Government on its Governing Council is jointly being managed by Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Nigeria, the host country member-states currently.
AFRIGIST formerly known as Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Surveys (RECTAS) was established under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in 1972 to build and increase capacities in geospatial information, science and technology including their applications. It is a bilingual (English and French) Intergovernmental Joint Institution for African countries having full Diplomatic Accreditation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and it is situated within the campus of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
According to the letter of appointment signed by Chairman of the council, Mr. Alain Sourou Kiki, representative of the Government of Benin Republic, dated 11th November, 2022, the appointment which would be for a fixed term of 4 years is with effect from 6th January, 2023. Professor Ojigi would be taking over from Dr. Akingbade Adewale Olusola whose tenure would expire by 5th January, 2023. For the position, the council received 32 applications that were screened with 4 later shortlisted and interviewed.
The incoming Executive Director of the Institute, Professor Ojigi who is currently the Director of Mission Planning and Satellite Data Management at NASRDA had his National Diploma in Surveying, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State (1988); B.Sc. Surveying, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1994) and had his mandatory National Youth Service Scheme in present day Kebbi State, 1993/95. He had his postgraduate training at the Federal University of Technology, Minna for his Masters Degree and PhD in Applied Remote-Sensing in 1998 and 2005 respectively.
Ojigi who specialized in space and satellite geodesy, remote-sensing and marine geospatial, engineering surveying, and spatial data science is the Secretary General of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) National Committee for Nigeria/Nigerian Union of Planetary and Radio Sciences. His experience spanned about 28 years both in teaching, research and administration. He belonged to many other regional and international organizations. The Professor of Surveying and Geoinformatics has to his credit many publications.
Signed:
Abu, I. Michael
Head of Press and Public Relations
