News in 2019
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SURCON Train the Trainers Workshop: Challenges and Opportunities in
Fit-for-Purpose Cadastre
1-5 July 2019, Miginbir Kano State, Nigeria
Surveyor Kabir, M.M Registrar of Surveyors Council of Nigeria
(SURCON) invited Vice President Diane Dumashie to participate as a
resource person and facilitator in the SURCON annual workshop for
training of tertiary institutions survey and geo-informatics educators,
which was held in Kano state, Nigeria from 1st-5thJuly2019.
SURCON is the agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible
for the registration and examination of surveyors across all states In
Nigeria. It regulates and controls the practice of Survey
profession in the country. Accordingly, it determines the standards of
knowledge and skills required to be registered as a member of the
profession, organising annual workshops featuring up and coming
technologies combined with leading edge thinking and providing continual
professional development for land professionals in Nigeria.
Under the leadership of Registrar, Surveyor Kabir an increasingly
popular and participatory approach to running the annual meetings has
been established over the past few years. This 2019 event was
designed as a Train-the - Trainers workshop (TTW), which is a learning
platform for lectures and instructors in Nigerian accredited
institutions that offer survey and geo- informatics.
Building on the previous years’ workshop, the aim was to increase the
awareness of participants on the desirability of fit-for-purpose
approach in surveying and cadastre. The participants are
expected to understand new globally acceptable technologies in surveying
and mapping; this in turn underpins the need to redesign the focus of
surveying and cadastre from purely production of an accurate map to that
of an important input into national development, wealth generation,
employment, environment, social economic and gender
balances; in fact the totality of the SDGs.
Ultimately, this approach will need a paradigm shift to be fit for
the future and consequently will requires consideration of how to
overhaul the curriculum of surveying and geoinformatics in Nigeria.
Attending dignitaries included Surv.Kasim M.Otheprotem Chairman of
the Council, Surv. E. B Awudu, the Surveyor General of the Federation,
the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors(NIS) was represented by Deputy
President Kayode Oluwamatomi and NIS Secretary General, the women’s wing
of Surveyors in Nigeria, Women in Surveying,(WIS) was represented by its
national coordinator Surv.Gertrude Njar and Surv Angela Etuonovbe. In
addition the Chairman SURCON Committee on Education, Surv.Osalusi, F.O,
and Chairman Examinations Committee, Surv.Eyo,OO, Chairman Registration
Committee Surv. Haido AA attended along with several State Surveyor
Generals from across the Federation.
There were over 100 land professional educators representing many of
the Nigerian polytechnics and Universities and a small number of private
practitioners.
Opening Dignitaries including Chair Exam committee, SURCON
Chairman, NIS Deputy President, and FIG Vice President |
Surv. E. B Awudu, the Surveyor General of the Federation of
Nigeria |
The workshop objectives were to:
- Provide a platform for the participants to become fully and coherently
Trainers of Trainers, and identify any gaps they need to progress to
competency, as necessary
- Update awareness of the SDG agenda as it is relevant to land survey and
mapping
- Understand new globally acceptable technologies in surveying and
mapping;
- Provide an enabling framework to assist with an implementing strategy
for the 2020 paradigm shift in survey education
- Prepare and provide methodology to enable early consideration by the
educators to address the need and how to change the curriculum
- Outline the next steps including ambitions to: subcommittee working,
validation, identifying who to influence at political and community
levels, pilot FFP and ultimately roll out a fit for the future curricula
in Nigeria.
Day one of the workshop started with morning opening formalities, the
detailed content beginning in the afternoon with technical sessions led
by Vice president Diane Dumashie, (see
presentation) followed by
presentations on legal and survey topics led by Paul Q Eshimomoh ACI ARB
(UK), MCFE, Notary Public, together with a presentation made by
Surv.Osaretim Ogbebor focusing on Legal Cadastre and analysing the
practical and adjudication issues and Stephen Calder, from GIS
Transport Ltd highlighting the companies approach to effective
recordation. These session prompted a robust interactive plenary
with the participants.
The second day was facilitated by Diane Dumashie, and designed to gain
all participants input specifically addressing the workshop objectives
(iv), (v) and (vi). Opening with a brief presentation by Diane
Dumashie (see
presentation) who then moderated a panel discussion
populated by representatives from the polytechnics, universities and
private sector. Including: Winston Ayeni, Chigbu Njike, Professor
Sika Orupabo, Eyo,O.O and Bernard Ekpete all of whom enlightened the
audience with their thoughts on the need for curricula review and the
practicalities to review and implement a revised curriculum for
educators. Not surprisingly facilitated by Diane Dumashie the
panel engaged in a full, frank and lively discourse with the debate
continuing with interventions from the audience.
Moderator Diane Dumashie and Chigbu Njike |
Panel discussants |
This set the scene for an afternoon of group working and deliberations,
with 10 groups generating discussions on a curriculum review including
‘what’ is their vision, and then addressing and formulating a road map
that could be considered by SURCON to help facilitate wider discussion
with the membership on what and how to evaluate different aspects of the
survey courses in Nigerian training institutions. Importantly
SURCON wish to enable collective conclusions on the ways forward. It is anticipated that after this TTW workshop a national validation
retreat will be convened to fully consider the views discussed and to
make further recommendations.
Participants in group work and deliberations
The finale was the gala dinner, the guest of honour was the
distinguished Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya,
and the Senate Committee Chairman on Works, as a qualified Architect he
is a supporter of the work of land professional and affirmed his
commitment to the value of our work and assurances that he would
continue to support the survey profession. In addition Chairman,
Surv.Kasim,M.O on behalf of the Council presented survey equipment to
the Vice Chancellor of Kano University, Wudil, Kano State as a gesture
to assist with the setting up of a dedicated geomatics department in the
university (it already has a school for Architecture).
Our gala dinner host, Senator K Ibrahim Gaya
|
from left - Kabir M.M Registrar, Senator Gaya & Surv.Kasim,M.O
presenting to V.Chancellor Kano University |
The workshop was a success, not least due to the efforts of the staff at
SURCON including, Surv.Pamela Ibikunle. The participants
concluded that understanding new globally acceptable technologies in
survey and mapping is an imperative; there is a need to redesign
surveying and cadastre curriculum to meet the SDGs and above all to
facilitate a fit-for-purpose approach. Ultimately, with reasoned
change and agility from the educators and practitioners, the survey
curriculum could be in a position to service Nigeria’s national needs by
2020.
Dr Diane Dumashie FRICS, Vice President FIG & Surveyor Kabir, M.M
Registrar of Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON)
August 2019
