The Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Olutoyin Fashae, has said that geography and social science courses remain vital to job creation, innovation, and numerous other opportunities, especially as the world shifts toward a space economy.
Fashae stated this while speaking at a career masterclass titled ‘Building Future Leaders in Geospatial and Space Technology’, organised by the Department of Geography, UI, in collaboration with Space in Africa and the Centre for Space Life Sciences, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
She noted that contrary to the ‘no jobs’ narrative, geography and social sciences produce problem-solvers for today’s biggest issues, such as climate change, urban planning, food security, and space development.
‘Geography and social science graduates have a wide skill set ranging from spatial analysis, data interpretation, human-environment understanding, and policy insight that fits both traditional and emerging sectors.
‘There are several key career paths for students of geography and other social science courses, such as in the geospatial and space economy, where a graduate can become a GIS Specialist or Analyst engaging in mapping, spatial data, and remote sensing for government, NGOs, and tech firms, or a space policy analyst working with space agencies and firms on satellite applications, space law, and strategy.
‘The environment and sustainability path also gives graduates an opportunity to become environmental consultants preparing EIA reports for oil, construction, and mining firms.
‘The aim of this event is to expose students to these opportunities as they progress in their studies. There are many more roles where students can become development economists or social researchers, urban and regional planning experts, location intelligence analysts, and climate-tech startup founders, among others,’ she said.
The Guest Speaker, Dr Temidayo Oniosun, the Founder of Space in Africa, noted that Africa does not have enough accurate environmental data, and this has been undermining weather forecasting, climate models, and access to global carbon credit markets.
According to him, the continent has historically relied heavily on satellite data because of poor ground infrastructure, but the data remains inaccurate.
‘In Nigeria, if we use the weather app, if it says it’s going to rain, it may not rain. If it says it’s not going to rain, it may rain. But if we go to the U.S., one just has to follow the weather app because the accuracy is very high. And the difference lies in the quality of the data,’ he said.
The data gap, he said, also prevents Africa from tapping into the global carbon credits market because countries cannot prove emission reductions without verifiable measurements.
Oniosun stressed that geospatial technology remains largely underutilised in Africa despite the availability of satellite data, creating a several-million-dollar opportunity for companies building platforms for agriculture, mining, and resource management.
For students, especially those in geography, meteorology, and social sciences, Oniosun said the data problem is an opportunity. He urged them to combine software development skills with domain knowledge to build products, integrate AI into data processing, and develop new sensors for monitoring.
He advised students to join international bodies like the Space Generation Advisory Council and YouthMappers for scholarships, fellowship opportunities, and global collaboration.
Also, Dr Olakunle Oladosu, the Director of the Centre for Space Life Sciences, NASRDA, noted that space science is no longer a distant or abstract field but a practical tool for solving real problems on Earth.
He added that the masterclass initiative by the Department of Geography was strategic and critical in bridging the gap between academia and industry, between knowledge and application, and between ambition and opportunity.
‘The space sector in Africa is expanding, and there is room for innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. As an agency, NASRDA remains committed to supporting capacity building, research, and partnerships that will position Nigeria as a key player in the global space community,’ he said.
A GIS expert, Dr Ezekiah Olaniran, said that the government is making a great error in not encouraging citizens to study geography or social science courses, noting that the world is turning to the space economy.
‘If our children do not have a foundation in geography, Nigeria will be left behind in the scheme of things in the world,’ he said.
In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, UI, Prof. Benjamin Ehigie, commended the initiative of the leadership of the Department of Geography for bringing experts to showcase to students how to practicalise what they are taught in class.
‘Some students may not even believe that what they have done in class can be operational. This initiative will enhance their cognitive processing of classroom knowledge and boost their confidence when they go out,’ he said.
The event featured insights into careers in space, GIS and Earth observation, resource sharing, networking, and a live question-and-answer session.