DTCA urges revamp of relationship with AFRIGIST

Revitalisation
By Maureen Okon
Abuja, March 11, 2020 (NAN) The Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) has called for the revamping of the relationship between the Regional Institute for Geo-spatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST), Ile-Ife.

Mr Mahmud Yahaya, The Acting Director-General of DTCA made the call when he received a 5-man delegation led by the Deputy Executive Director, Mr Belem Abdoulaye, from AFRIGIST in Abuja on Wednesday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AFRIGIST was formerly known as the Regional Center for Training in Aerospace Survey (RECTAS).

Mahmud praised the long standing and cordial relationship between both organisations, saying that it dates back to 2005.

He also called for the revitalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two bodies as well as to build on the existing relationship established by both organisations’ predecessors.

Responding, Abdoulaye appreciated Mahmud for the warm reception, stating that they were at the directorate to reintroduce AFRIGIST to DTCA.

He said that the institution was established in 1972 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

He added that the UNECA was an educational non-stop solution that trains highly skilled manpower in geo-spatial information science and technology and its application.

Abdoulaye said that the organisation was situated in the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and was a bi-lingual inter-governmental institution in Africa.

“The main trust of the institution is to build the capacity of Africans in the science and technology of geo-spatial information management in the area of Geo-Information, science, cartography and consultancy services.

“The institute has different levels of courses; Diploma, Postgraduate, Masters and Professional Master level, and the institute has collaborate with other organisations such as FUTA, University of Ghana, NARSDA and a host of others,’’ he said.

Abdoulaye said that they look forward to reviving the existing relationship between both organisations for the mutual benefit of the continent in the area of geo-spatial information science and technology.

NAN reports that a convenient date would be communicated to them for both organisations to formally meet in order to revisit the MoU. (NAN)
ETIM/ISMA
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz