ABUJA IN TIME AND SPACE: HOW TO BECOME A CITIZEN CARTOGRAPHER

How many organizations do you reach in Lagos in 5hours? “I manage to do three, if it’s on the mainland and two if it’s towards or on the Island” replied our focal point in Lagos. So what about Abuja “I always do 2 in 1hour, so I reach 10 in 5hrs, however, getting the exact location or address remains the biggest challenge. Even most of the popular on-line yellow pages don’t have a recent and reliable data of important places in Abuja, same with the popular Google maps!” narrated our focal point in Abuja.

Participants at the Google NYSC Lagos Mapup engaged
in Ground truth activities

By the end of 2012, Google Map Maker will have data to cover about 5million unique miles, in 3,000 cities on every continent! Including Antarctica. One of the greatest contributors to these massive data is Google Map users – I mean me and you, and we keep populating the maps every day. Abuja is not an exception. Nevertheless, am being told several times, that “the location of that pub isn't right on Google Maps”, that “there are now five new schools on that avenue, but we do not have them on our list as gotten from Google Maps”. Recently, a friend on facebook posted “Please can anyone help me with the direction to a nearby hospital around Cadastral A7,  my child just had a deep cut”, and a student from one of the universities asked me “why won’t Google have my building on Google Maps?”

Mappers doing a ground truth of images from Google Maps
Students of  the University of Ibadan Mapping their campus  

These are some of the issues the Google Map Maker Mapup tagged the “Abuja Mapping Party” tends to solve. In 6 days, starting from January 26 - February 2, 2013 (Find programme of activities here)  we hope to have mapped about 9,000 points which include roads, pubs, offices, schools, hospitals, gas stations, parks and other point of interest within Wuse II, Wuse Zone 1-7, Jabi, Utako, Life Camp and the largest estate in West Africa – Gwarinpa. The event will give you an opportunity to show/share your local knowledge by mapping places in Abuja, exchange ideas and win while having fun.  The Abuja mapping party will show participants how to map different places, draw roads, add categories and discuss other features. This will enable them become citizen cartographers and improve the quality of maps and local information. If you will like to join us, kindly register here  and don’t forget to come with your back bags, coffee cups, plug – outlets and your computer devices.

Mappers at the Google/NYSC Lagos MapUp Event

The event hopes to make particularly Abuja, a smart city, a better mapped city with relevant and recent local information such as roads, schools, hospitals, banks, hotels, police stations and such other important places entered by you, having local knowledge. We will be looking out for the youngest and oldest mapper amongst us, as such we invite children, students, geo-spatial experts and people from all works. “Google Map Maker Souvenirs’ and refreshment will be available, and a certificate of participation will be given to all participants at the end of the event” affirmed Adepoju Emmanuel, a Google Map Maker advocate and ambassador.

WOULD YOU SPARE A CLICK TO SAVE 1,500 CHILDREN?

What would one give in exchange for a new iPad? One 17yr-old boy gave a kidney! Apparently, he couldn’t afford an iPad and wanted one so badly that he was willing to risk surgery. Now you have a chance to sign a petition to save the lives of 1,500 lead poisoned children here

Primary school children in Bagega

Bagega, a small community with a population of about 10,000 people in Northern Nigeria has about 1,500 lead poisoned children awaiting urgent medical attention.

In the heat of November, while I was in Bagega, I strolled into the only clinic, which had three blocks of dilapidated wards, with rickety patient beds (three in each block). Entering the first block, meant to be a delivery ward, was sitting a woman carrying a new born baby. One of the staff told me the woman just got delivered of a baby boy. “The only thing we are not certain about is the lead blood level of this newly born in the next coming months”.

The extension of the clinic at Bagega

While the numbers of children keep adding up in this community, the only hope for them is you and I, that will be responsible for getting the voices of these innocent children heard, not only by the federal government of Nigeria, but the world at large. “Children keep dying of high lead blood levels in our community, but seem underreported” affirmed Sanni M. Aliu Bagega, a 31yr-old Environmental Health Officer from Bagega.

While the government of Nigeria, during an International Conference on Lead Poisoning on May 9 and 10, 2012 , already promised $4million (NGN850million) for the clean-up of this community. About 7months now “there hasn’t been any help until now, people come to talk to us, but they won’t do anything” said Halima, a grandmother that has lost eight grandchildren to lead poisoning already.

The contaminated Inna Gwabi Dam in Bagega where
community members fetch water, wash and have their bath

Remediation can’t wait to save the lives of these children. Apparently, we can’t afford to head to the streets, but our appeal can be forwarded through a click. Please sign the petition here on behalf of the children of Bagega. About 512 great people from 59 countries already signed, and this has made local and international media, the social media including bloggers amplify the voice of this ailing community.

On December 6, 2012 as a follow up, the Human Rights Watch launched a social media campaign seeking the president’s release of promised cleanup funds. To join the campaign asking President Jonathan to release the funds, you can visit his facebook page and comment on his last status update with the following message:

'President Jonathan, why won’t you release the money you promised in May to clean up poisonous lead in Zamfara? Children are dying and your government’s failure to act is putting more children at risk'

WHEN THE GOOGLE MAP MAKER AFRICAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN LAGOS

Attending conferences in Lagos can be ecthic a times,  but it might be strategic for technology based conferences, in that most tech hubs and institutions are based in Lagos. Much reason why Lagos has the most populated points on Google Maps. While for me, August 24 – 25, 2012 was a good date, reason been it was just on the last day the Cloneshouse Nigeria's Monitoring & Evaluation Lagos training will be ending. After 5days of course facilitation, heading to another conference might be interesting.

Cross section of participants at the Conference

The reception at the Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel on Victoria Island looks fascinating, and perhaps, it might be a 2days of rest. They have gotten some great facilities in their room. Entering, all I needed to do was to connect to the internet – it was exceptionally fast! Immediately I had to check where that network was from – MainOne Cable did the Job! A downloading speed at about 2mb/sec, none have seen like that in Nigeria. Maybe, a good reason why Evans, and the Google Map Maker team chose this location for the Africa Regional Conference.

Kicking off the keynote session was Jayanth Mysore, who presented how Google Maps have evolved over time -  From 22 countries (13million miles) in 2008 to about 187 countries (26million miles) in 2012. He emphasized on how all this data has been generated – (1) Ground Truth, which is an internal effort (Google Map Maker offices); (2) Contributions from Google Map users; (3) Google Place for Business where you add your business location and information of owner; (4) Data from Governments and Agencies where Google buys licenses from these organizations.

Jayanth Mysore - The Keynote Speaker at the conference

As the participants needed to know how the Map Maker community works and how they can organize Mapups (a Google sponsored event, in which a group or team come together to map places they know), Jesse Gibbons, the Community Manager was delighted to share this information. Perhaps, you will like join, you can check here. If you are a Google Map Maker user and would like to organize a MapUp , you can sign up here. Mapups are opportunity to share local knowledge and build communities while having fun! The Google Map Maker Community will be able to help with Food and Drinks, Equipment, Your Travel, printed materials – posters, banners, name tags, schwags – T-shirts, stickers, sunglasses and more.

Meeting other Mappers from other African countries was awesome. It was good to know that most were young citizen cartographers. Was pleased to see the trio - Leonard Ouma, Kevin, and Faith Gitau share stories of their mapping exercise around a university in Mombassa. Their main challenge was the access to broadband internet, a take away in most places in Africa. 

Max Adoko, Leonard, Kevin and Faith Gitau

Max Adoko, a Google Map reviewer from Uganda, told the story of how he used is precious time as a Systems Administrator at a Cyber Café to engage himself in Google Map Making. 
He shared some mapping stories from Uganda. Perhaps, the stories wouldn’t have left the four walls of the venue, if the Nigerian stories weren’t documented. Emmanuel Adepoju, a young Nigerian, Google Advocate and Ambassador that initiated the mapping of the University of Ibadan presented “Opening Nigeria to the World”. He shared stories of how Nigerian students have been mapping their various university campuses, and also extending the gesture to other local communities.

The Night seems longer than usual with a great outing at the popular bar on Lekki phase two. Chatting away with Muhammed, a Google Map reviewer from Gambia, and a man of great experience with geospatial technologies seems wonderful. He took all the great pictures during the conference, and he hopes to map every part of Africa.

Day 2 hopes to be interesting, dedicated to unconference sessions, where topics are suggested and chosen by participants. Nevertheless, the day was opened with the story by Gilbert Mucyo of how Kigali  in Rwanda was mapped. It was quite exciting to know that government institutions - The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Conservation of Rwanda were involved this time, with the aim of providing tourist with an easy access to the information they need to find their way along the tourist towns, thus making the exercise and its outcomes more sustainable. 

Gilbert (Rwanda), Funmilayo (Nigeria), Momodou (Gambia),
Faith(Kenya), Max (Uganda)

The unconference session included (1) Map making as a career, where participants agreed that Google Maps APIs could be used to create online yellow pages for communities; (2) Crisis Mapping and Data Collection, where crowdsource maps of the drought in Burkina Faso, the Lagos Traffic Map; and other crowdsourcing opportunities were shared, likewise how local communities could be engaged in Google Crisis Maps. The availability of SMS messaging for situational awareness during crisis was also envisaged; (3) Mobile Mapping, where most participants agreed that Google map maker should be made available as a mobile app, as most Africans accesses the web using their mobile phones; also the ability of the Track app, was mentioned, as a mobile mapping application; (4) Incentives for Mapping looked a great topic that might not end in a month in Africa, but it was agreed that badges and ratings could be included for Mappers, and souvenirs during Mapups can still serve as motivation; (5) Creating and Sustaining community beyond Mapups was also an interesting session. Adding Map maker to curriculum of schools were raised, also creating Map maker tech hubs in different cities to provide for equipments needed during Mapups, and also engaging Mapup participants in the uses of the maps they create.

Adepoju Abiodun, presenting Opening Nigeria to the World

Wow! In two days, citizen cartographers in Africa came together, to point out directions to the next level in digital mapping. As everyone hung on to their backpacks, the next mapup will definitely be on their mind, and how to engage local stakeholders. Way to go, Mappers!

STRUGGLING WITH THE FUTURE: MY FIRST ALMA MATA

When a crisis hits a vast institution it can seem reasonable to say that the task of handling the crisis falls mainly to the institution itself. It must regroup and survive, or else fail and collapse. But things change when there is evidence of criminal activity and of efforts to hide it. At that point it becomes urgent for everybody including good people inside the institution, to let daylight in and expose wrongdoing without hesitation to outside authorities.

All that might seem obvious, but for some of those at the helm of affairs of Nigeria's primary education system for three decades now,  a call to order has yet to be made. Instead of fully accepting mismanagement of that sector, they keep shifting blames on one another.

As worrisome as it may be, that Nigeria still spend less than 9% of her annual budget on education - the mainstay of an economy, the share for primary education expenditure remains at 36%, which is much lower than that accross the continent- 48%. As at 2008, the total primary classrooms was 319,590, while total primary schools was 54,434 and total school teachers at 586,930. What does these figures tell us ? an average of 10 teachers per school, average of 70 primary schools in each local government area. The latter seem encouraging, however the distribution might be skewed, and in this part of the world, the large numbers of classrooms wouldn't matter, it is the impact those four walls will have on the pupils that pass through it, this is worsened by the "mushroom" schools, also called private primary schools that  has taken over the country.

A Primary School with their teachers in Nigeria

According to the World Bank Data, Nigeria primary education witnesses a decline in % net enrollment of pupils, with 65% in 2007 and 58% in 2010. One might ask, why the decline? In neighbouring Benin, 89% enrolled in 2008 compared to 94% in 2010, Ghana also is encouraging its primary education sector growing from 72% in 2007 to 84% in 2011. Despite the incentives been given to lure children into school, the number seems to be decreasing. However, in as much as education isn't free in Nigeria at this primary level, parents will still have an excuse of not sending their wards to school. It is good to know that some states like Imo, Ogun has started thinking in this direction- the northern governors are  should take  cue from this development.

Nevertheless, as 100% enrollment and free primary education might sound sexy, the quality of knowledge acquired from this institutions should be at par with the numbers. One might ask? Where does quality starts? The number of trained teachers in these primary schools in Nigeria still hangs at 66% in 2010, and when compared to other African countries such as Kenya with an average of 98% between 2009 and 2007; Rwanda with an average of 95% for years now; Togo, one of our neighbouring countries that in 2007 has 15% now has 77% of trained teachers in 2010. Between 2007 and 2011, Burundi and Tanzania has averaged 89% and 100% respectively of trained teachers in their primary schools. Can one give what he doesn't have? It's is quite obvious that priority should be given to the re-training of primary school teachers in Nigeria.

Nevertheless, as the NERDC (Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council) introduces the new curriculum ( an headache for the three tiers of schooling in Nigeria) for primary schooling in Nigeria, the institution that is responsible for training of teachers, should be strengthened with qualifiied trainers. When an institution needs cleansing, a times it should be revamped! To put it kindly, whoever has upheld those curriculum for the past decades must be out of touch with reality that is now catching up with the education ministry.

While universal primary education is important (Togo, Burundi, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, and Tanzania have achieved or/are nearing the goal -MDG reports 2011), much value will be added through quality education. When  a country wants to become an economic power in the near future, it is not by "time travel", it builds capacity of her human resources!

CAPE VERDE: THE AFRICAN HAVEN AT THE END OF THE WORLD

On the night of July 26, 2012, I left for Dakar (The Airport looks untidy with no wireless internet appearing anywhere on my gadgets), all that caught my eye was a black cat, strolling around the international transit lounge. As my flight to Praia, is on the next day, I had to bring out my rugged laptop and start reading, until my power cable made a pop sound! Telling me its morning already.

Flying to Cape Verde, there was no avoiding the sea. An archipelago of 9 islands, lying almost 450km of the western tip of Senegal. There was almost no slope or road or window from which the seas could not be seen. With a population of about 459,000, the sea took Capeverdeans away, flinging to France, Brazil and New England, while as many stayed changing to their Dry land. “While their exile broke hearts, it gave them money to send home” said Moses, an energetic taxi driver, speaking English vaguely, took me to Pestana Tropico Hotel. Certainly, he had so many to say about the Island, but the 700 Cape Verde Escudos (CVE) couldn't take us longer than stopping in front of the hotel.

Taken from the Plateau, overlooking the Gamboa Beach
and the crowd at one of the city carnival

Just by the sea – Now that am “home” I can now look forward to the United Nations Space Based Information on Disaster and Emergency Response(UN-SPIDER) 5days Technical Advisory Mission to CapeVerde (meaning Green). While I was engrossed with my meal – Batata Frita (French Fries) and Atum grelhado (grilled fish), I peeped through my window, and just out there were a massive crowd, just by the Gamboa Beach. Since the weekend might be the only opportunity to catch a glimpse of what the summer is like, I decided to join the crowd, and perhaps – engage in some photography.

As the days of the week passed by – visiting organizations involved in Disaster and Emergency Response, my nights were occupied by responding to mails, and updating colleagues in Nigeria of task plans, while monitoring other important projects virtually. However on Wednesday, the UN-SPIDER team went on an excursion to Tarrafal, about 5hrs north of Praia. It was quite intriguing how the winding roads kept us in between the valleys, plateaus, and hills. Just on the road is a concentration camp built sometimes in 1936, turned museum since 1974. The town stands in a class of its own, with temperature at about 25°C, the beach was occupied by tourists from different part of the world, while the sea foods at the restaurant could leave your taste bud hungry for more. Had some great times to play beach soccer with the kids, while some team members, swam their way into the ocean.

Looking at Fogo Island in the Sky was amazing as we
arrive at  Cidade Velha

Friday Night was angelic at the Quintal da Musical. This was the music house for those sad, syncopated mornas, the blended Portuguese fado, Brazilian modinhas, and the laments of Angola and just like Moses told me “it might be from the shanties of British seafarers”. At this restaurant, you have to book a table, some days before coming, which reminds me of Figlmueller in Vienna.Falling in love with the atmosphere was an understatement, encapsulated in the rhythm of the music, and the dance of the singers, who sang barefoot, a tradition culled from the Cesaria Evoria, one of the greatest Capeverdean singers, who died on December 17^th, 2011 at age 70). Humming…Sodade…Sodade…Sodade…dess…nha…terra … “Music here is about love, emigration, homesickness, looking for work, waiting for rain, missing people” said Uche, a Nigerian I met at one of the markets on the Plateau. Uche sells Compact Discs at the Market. He’s been living on the Santiago Island for 5years, with his elder brother who has been staying in Cape Verde for 15years.

The slave market - the UNESCO World Heritage Site
at Cidade Velha

Saving the best for the last – if you visit Cape Verde, and you didn’t stopped by at Cidade Velha, then you have missed the Ribeira Grande. I and Professor Isi of RECTAS decided to visit! At 4,000 CVE, Moses will take us visiting the Old City (about 45mins drive from Prainha, 15km from Praia), a UNESCO world heritage site, which quickly expanded to become the first capital city of Cape Verde. Beholding the slave market brought back memories of how Africans were been treated and transported to other parts of the world. The relics of the old churches echo the grieving sounds of the energetic African idol. In the 16^th century, this city prospered from transatlantic slave trade, with slaves being brought from Africa to the isolation of Cape Verde to work in inhuman conditions in the cotton fields. Cidade Velha was a target for several pirate attacks, and in 1712, it came under an attack by an army of looters. The city subsequently went into decline, and was usurped by Praia, which became the capital in 1770.

As the night crept in, there was one more place to visit – Bar ‘O Poeta, all thanks to Agnezkia and Fred.  Just situated around the Rua da Assemblera Nacional. The sound of the cavaquinho greeted us, as we entered the soul lounge. Unlike Quintel de Musical, there were few guests, and the funana pace of music was allowed. Humming the songs away, this was our “Café Atlantico” – the haven at the end of the world, where the waves crashed and the wind blew there was always something good, and surprising, and comforting. One of the souvenirs that return the memoir of Cabo Verde is the 1,000CVE artwork I got from the market on the plateau – quite an art to behold!

THE NEXT BIG THING: DARING THE WORLD TO SAVE THE PLANET

As the largest environmental event in history, Earth Hour today , February 14, launched its 2012 campaign “I Will If You Will” to showcase how everyone has the power to change the world they live in.

For the first time, Earth Hour, being held on 31 March, is taking a giant leap from its annual lights out event to offer a further opportunity for its communities to be part of the world’s environmental solution.

Earth Hour began as a one city initiative in 2007, and has since grown to be a 5,251 city strong global movement, reaching 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across all seven continents.

The “I Will If You Will” digital platform created by global ad agency Leo Burnett, is the result of a collaboration with YouTube, therefore bringing together the world’s biggest social video platform with the ‘world’s largest action for the environment’.

The “I Will If You Will” campaign uses the YouTube video platform to empower people to share a personal dare with the world by asking, “What are you willing to do to save the planet?”

Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley says “I Will If You Will” is the obvious next stage in the environmental campaign’s evolution.

“I Will If You Will gives every individual the opportunity to inspire their friends, colleagues and neighbours to take sustainability actions not just on the hour but beyond the hour,” said Ridley.

The concept of “I Will If You Will” centres around providing a social contract for two parties – connecting one person, business or organisation to a promise and their friends, family, customers or members to a challenge – uniting them behind the common goal of creating a positive environmental outcome.

The Earth Hour YouTube platform hosts a global library of “I Will If You Will” challenges, and encourages people to share their “dare” publically through Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and email. Friends can be invited to participate and accept each challenge using these popular social networks.

The simple promise can range from recycling, to switching to energy efficient light bulbs, turning off your mobile charger, or signing up for paperless banking.

Earth Hour in Nigeria has the support of First City Monument Bank Plc,The Abuja Environmental Protection Board, The Lagos Environmental Protection Agency, The Federal Road Safety Commission, The Peace Corps of Nigeria, The Nigeria Television Authority, Zakudia Lounge, Lead British International School, Abuja Capital International College, Capville Schools, Best International School, Nature Cares, Nigerian Youth Climate Change Coalition and many more.

Earth Hour Global has already received I Will If You Will challenges from a number of corporate companies and community groups, including, CBRE and children’s character Pocoyo.

Earth Hour 2012 will take place at 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 31 March

**Interviews are available with Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour**

Visit the Earth Hour YouTube platform here

View Images here

Media Contact:

Rebecca George, Earth Hour Global, Rebecca@earthhour.org +61 421 988 035

Benjamin Vozzo, Earth Hour Global, Benjamin@earthhour.org +61 415 194 219

"This is an Official Press Release from Earth Hour Global"