By Tolulope Eniola
A Professor of Geology at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Solomon Obaje, has called for the establishment of a comprehensive national geospatial data bank as a strategic pathway to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth and boost foreign exchange earnings.
Obaje made the call on Tuesday while delivering the 60th inaugural lecture of the university, titled “Not Medicine, But Mission: From Disappointment to Discovery in Geoscience for National Development.”
The geoscientist emphasised that Nigeria’s vast solid mineral resources remain largely underutilised due to inadequate investment in geoscientific data infrastructure.
He noted that the development of a robust and accessible geospatial data system would significantly reduce exploration risks, attract investors and enhance the country’s mining sector.
According to him, government must prioritise the digitisation, centralisation and transparency of geological datasets through an efficient Mining Cadastral System to improve investor confidence and ensure evidence-based resource governance.
Obaje further urged the Federal Government to adopt a deliberate strategy in developing critical minerals, highlighting the need to accelerate the exploitation of phosphate deposits in Sokoto State to address the nation’s fertiliser deficit and strengthen food security.
He also recommended pilot schemes for the extraction of associated minerals such as uranium to support long-term energy planning.
He stressed the urgency of completing the National Airborne Geophysical Survey and conducting high-resolution geochemical mapping across key mineral belts in states including Kebbi, Edo, Ondo and Kogi, describing such data as essential tools for unlocking credible mining investments.
The professor also challenged emerging geoscientists to embrace interdisciplinary knowledge, urging them to acquire skills in information and communication technology, artificial intelligence and data science to improve the application and communication of scientific findings.
In addition, he called on tertiary institutions to establish specialised institutes such as Institutes of Earth System and Integrated and Computational Geosciences, as well as incorporate computational geology into academic curricula to align research with national economic priorities.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Adebisi Daramola, described the lecture as a reflection of resilience and purpose.
He noted that geoscience remains pivotal to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential and commended Obaje for his contributions to research and national development.
The event underscored the critical role of data-driven strategies in harnessing Nigeria’s mineral wealth for sustainable economic advancement.
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