GEOSON, EDOGIS Seal Pact to Drive Mapping, Training and Institutional Growth Across Edo

GEOSON, EDOGIS Seal Pact to Drive Mapping, Training and Institutional Growth Across Edo

By Admin 

In a move that signals fresh momentum for Edo’s digital and land management landscape, the Geo-Information Society of Nigeria, GEOSON, Edo State Chapter, has pledged to work hand-in-hand with the Edo State Geographic Information Service, EDOGIS, to strengthen institutions and push geospatial innovation forward for the benefit of every stakeholder.

The commitment was made when a delegation of GEOSON’s executive council, headed by the State Chairman, Surveyor Ezekiel Eromosei, paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Managing Director of EDOGIS, Dr. Innocent Ehi Bello. The visit was part congratulatory, part strategic — aimed at laying the foundation for a long-term partnership between the professional body and the state agency.

Welcoming his guests, Dr. Bello took the group down memory lane, recalling his own years as a member of GEOSON. He praised the Society for its consistent efforts in promoting surveying, mapping, and GIS practice in Edo, while also challenging members to address lapses that have affected professional standards.

He received the collaboration proposal warmly, stressing that progress in land administration and spatial planning depends on unity among all actors. The EDOGIS boss gave immediate assurances: the agency will provide a meeting space for GEOSON within its premises and is ready to support the Society’s programmes. He further urged the team to draft a formal Memorandum of Understanding to codify the partnership and guide future engagements.

Surveyor Eromosei, while thanking Dr. Bello for the audience, said the purpose of the visit went beyond pleasantries. The goal, he explained, is to deepen cooperation and unlock new opportunities that will expand Edo’s geospatial capacity.

He outlined GEOSON’s track record in advancing GIS education and practice across the state, then spotlighted the Society’s key goals moving forward:

1. *Joint hosting of Benin City GIS Day 2026* with EDOGIS to showcase innovations and attract national attention.

2. *Stronger participation of EDOGIS staff* in GEOSON activities to bridge the gap between regulation and practice.

3. *Capacity building and training programmes* to upskill surveyors, cartographers, and GIS analysts.

4. *School and university outreach* to inspire the next generation of geospatial professionals.

5. *Public awareness campaigns* to help citizens, businesses, and government agencies understand the value of accurate spatial data.

Eromosei also laid bare some hurdles facing the Society, including difficulty securing meeting venues and limited funding for projects. He proposed several areas where both bodies can work together: institutional support from EDOGIS, shared access to geospatial data for research, professional placement opportunities for qualified GEOSON members, joint advocacy for better geospatial policies, and coordinated communication to promote the sector.

The GEOSON chairman emphasized that a formalized, structured alliance would deliver wins for both organizations and for Edo people at large — from faster land documentation, to better urban planning, to job opportunities for trained graduates.

To move things forward, GEOSON asked for the exchange of official communication channels and a follow-up technical meeting to hammer out details. The Society also proposed that both parties develop an MoU as the legal and operational backbone for the collaboration.

The engagement ended on a cordial note with the presentation of souvenirs to Dr. Bello and a group photograph. The atmosphere reflected optimism that this partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter for geospatial development in Edo — one where government and professionals pull in the same direction.

With EDOGIS providing institutional backing and GEOSON bringing professional expertise and grassroots reach, Edo State is positioning itself to become a stronger hub for mapping, land information management, and spatial innovation.