Strengthening Land Degradation Monitoring in Nigeria through GEO-LDN Training

Building on the success of the GEO-LDN training in Senegal, eleven practitioners from across Nigeria convened at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja for the flagship GEO Land Degradation Neutrality (GEO-LDN) training.

Building on the success of the GEO-LDN training in Senegal, eleven practitioners from across Nigeria convened at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in Abuja for the flagship GEO Land Degradation Neutrality (GEO-LDN) training.

The first day opened on a note of institutional warmth and strategic affirmation. Dr. James Godstime Kadiri, Director of Strategic Space Applications at NASRDA, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Director General, Dr. Matthew Olumide Adepoju, emphasizing NASRDA’s commitment to using space-based solutions to support national development priorities, with land degradation monitoring as a key pillar. He also acknowledged the efforts of Dr. Shomboro, the programme coordinator, and Angela, GEO-LDN Helpdesk Officer, whose partnership made the workshop possible.

“This is not a routine training — it is a deliberate convergence of institutional capacity, international technical support, and national resolve.” — Dr. James Godstime Kadiri The participants brought diverse expectations, from mastering Trends.Earth for disaster assessment and crop productivity analysis to strengthening Nigeria’s UNCCD reporting ahead of COP17. The workshop demonstrated a multi-sectoral community of practice ready to apply data-driven insights to address land degradation challenges.