News in 2025

Imagining new roles for surveyors at consecutive African conferences 4YSAM and ISK 2025

27-31 October 2025, Mombasa, Kenya

The FIG Young Surveyors 4th African Regional Meeting 2025 (4YSAM) and the 10th African Regional Conference of Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) were held consecutively in collaboration with Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) CASLE and supported by Survey Institute of Zimbabwe. Read the inspiring report from chair of the FIG Young Surveyors African Network, David Elegbede, with contributions by Nozipho Madlala and Fridah Mwangi.

FIG Young Surveyors 4th African Regional Meeting 2025 (4YSAM)

FIG Young Surveyors 4th African Regional Meeting 2025 (4YSAM), themed "Lead. Innovate. Transform”, was held at the Prideinn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa, Kenya. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) as host. ISK is a member association of FIG as well as Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) and is an independent body with a common understanding with FIG under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached in 2024.

The young surveyors meeting had over 100 participants in attendance. This meeting brought together a diverse network of students, early-career professionals, grassroots mappers, researchers, policy advocates and tech developers from over 10 African countries. The meeting was categorised under these sub-topics:

  1. Leadership, innovation and youth empowerment in surveying and geospatial professionals.
  2. Surveying and geospatial data integration for evidence-based policy and sustainable development.
  3. Partnership and collaboration – public, private, and academic synergies for impact.
  4. Digital transformation - leveraging emerging technologies in surveying and geospatial science development.
  5. Round table discussion on young surveyors’ challenges and potential solutions.
  6. Networking, technical tour, and social event.

Day 1 started on a fulfilling note. From the welcoming session to the keynote address by Prof. Eugene Chigbu, discussing key challenges we face as professionals. A general lack of awareness of the diverse surveying professions and their roles in the geospatial transformation creates missed opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

Brain Wesaala, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Football Foundation for Africa, spoke about football as an infrastructure for a socio-economic society. He encouaged the participants to become entrepreneurs in sports and carve a niche as sports surveyors.

The first panel of the day discussed on climate resilience and environmental sustainability through Surveying and Geospatial solutions. The panellists involved were Debora Oyugi from Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA) who is very passionate about climate change. She challenged the participants to sit at tables where decisions and policies are made because most problems require localized solutions.

AlBright Oburo from African Women in GIS took the participants through the history of GIS (Geographic Information System) for the benefit of guests without GIS knowledge and how technology must be human-centred. This also resonated on a locally rooted, inclusive and equitable society.

David Elegbede discussed the FIG Volunteer Community Surveyor Program (VCSP) concept and how it helps the young surveyors understand grassroot engagement and policy structure from the planning stage to implementation. He also explained how it shapes the career and perspectives of the young surveyors involved.

Panel 1: L-R. Fridah Mwangi, Godwill Baah, Deborah Oyugi, David Elegbede, and Albright Oburo.

 

Encouraging mentorships for young surveyors

The second Panel was an extensive discussion moderated by Rebecca Abitimoh (Uganda). Mr. Stephen Djaba (chair of FIG Task Force on Evolutionary Diversity and Inclusion) discussed inclusion as the new coordinates, leaving listeners with an interesting quote: "Inclusion is not a favour; it is the coordinate of progress and growth”. Co-panellist Nelly Mbugua encouraged the young professionals with her journey, also from leading seniors at the age of 32 to her current position. They collectively insisted that young surveyors must be willing to take on mentorship and seek knowledge.

Panel 2: Fridah Mwangi, Rebecca Abitimoh, Nelly Mbugua, and Stephen Djaba.

Afternoon session of the day started with Dr. Nashon Adero talking about surveying in a VUCA world Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) and Africa's opportunity in the built environment. The meeting further delved into a presentation by Philmon Ekaale on how an informal Turkana community-led change initiative and the use of local knowledge continue to shape the future of land governance and inclusion in collaboration with different agencies. The last presentation of the day was by Nozipho Madlala’s video presentation on smart cities rankings and Africa reimagined.

The day was fun with a mix of rich discussions and plenty of tea. It then ended with a social evening and games. Participants engaged in finding someone who has the same starting alphabet name as them. Then proceeded to games, were general geographic and African location questions were asked. Congratulations to the winning team and thanks to the losing team for agreeing to dance for other winners to watch.

The second day began with a panel discussion on partnerships and collaboration, moderated by Nozipho Madlala, featuring two speakers, Professor Eugene Chigbu and Mr. Eric Nyadimo. Professor Chigbu presented on tenure-responsive land use planning as an example of cross-sector collaboration, illustrating how integrated planning approaches can promote inclusive and sustainable development. Mr. Nyadimo shared his experiences working across Africa and internationally, reflecting on how exposure to different professional environments strengthens collaboration and innovation in the geospatial field.

Panel session on partnerships and collaboration by Prof. Eugene Chigbu and Mr. Eric Nyadimo moderated by Nozipho Madlala.

In the following discussion, the speakers addressed several questions about the challenges of cross-sector collaboration. These included cultural, language, and geographic barriers, as well as managing competing stakeholder expectations and maintaining momentum. They emphasized that collaborations are relationships that rely on mutual benefit, trust, and clear communication of expectations.

The next session featured presentations by Nozipho Madlala, Gustav Fick of Carlson Survey, and Gertrude Mbaseege (via video presentation). The speakers shared practical advice with young surveyors on how to build and promote their personal brands, make effective use of technology, and prepare professional CVs and cover letters. Participants appreciated the useful and relatable insights shared, particularly the emphasis on taking initiative, being intentional about career growth, and using digital tools to create visibility and credibility in the profession.

Recognition of FIG Foundation grant recipients

The FIG Foundation awards five grants for the 4YSAM. The recipients, who were recognized for their achievements, were: Oluwaseun Dorcas Adeniji (Nigeria), Daniel Emmanuel Nyalandu (Tanzania), Twapewa Chikopa (Zambia), Oyedoyun Abel Timileyin (Nigeria), and Jecinta Wanjiru (Kenya). Their success stories reflected the value of mentorship, dedication, and international collaboration within the Young Surveyors Network. The FIG Foundation has always supported young surveyors with grants at both global and regional levels FIG-related meetings or events. We are grateful for this opportunity and continuous support.

Presentation of the certificate to the FIG Foundation grant recipients was led by David Elegbede on behalf of FIG Foundation Board of Directors.

Youth in dialogue

The final session of the second day was a participatory discussion moderated by David Elegbede. Young surveyors identified key issues affecting their professional development in their respective regions and proposed practical solutions. Common themes included the need for more mentorship opportunities, greater access to technology and training, and stronger engagement of young professionals in decision-making and leadership roles. The session concluded with a renewed sense of purpose among participants, reinforcing the commitment of young African surveyors to lead, innovate, and transform their communities through collaboration and professional excellence.

Day 3 were technical tours, organised by Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK), giving the participants a choice between the Vipingo Ridge or Harbour tour (Kenya Ports Authority & Kenya Maritime Authority). The Vipingo Ridge (group photo on the right) is a luxury, sustainable environment built on over 2000 acres of land with diverse habitats which reflects the impact of planning for a sustainable lifestyle. The Kenya Ports Authority tour reflects the operations and administrative function of the agency for socio-economic impact.

 

10th ISK African Regional Conference

The week activity proceeded to 10th ISK African Regional Conference on 30-31 October 2025, themed “Future-ready landed professionals: Fostering excellence and resilience.”

This conference had a wider ordinance from all facets of the industry such as top government officials and agencies, academia, private sectors, and technology providers. The keynote address was on "The future of work in the built environment: Adapting through lifelong learning and competency-based education and training (CBET)", delivered by Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng, head of Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Imperial College of London, United Kingdom, and Dr. Charisse Griffith-Charles, president of Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE).

The event also had the present of top principal government officials who were the two guest of honours and the chief guest: 

  • Engr. John Kipchumba Tanui, principal secretary of state department for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy at Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE)
  • H.E. Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, governor, county government of Mombasa
  • H.E. Dr. Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (EGH), prime cabinet secretary as well as cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, respectively 

There were other presentations and discussions on the following:

  • The future of AI in real estate with smart infrastructure perspectives.
  •  Data protection and collaboration for business sustainability.
  •  Real estate futures: Navigating disruption, technology and climate risk in the built environment.
  •  Marina and natural resources: Surveying for the blue and green economy.
  •  Organisational dynamics, inclusion & ethical practices and geospatial intelligence for blue-green future.
  •  Modernization and integration of geodetic reference frameworks in transition/geospatial intelligence and digital mapping for development.
  •  Innovative technologies and investment pathways for the built environment.
  •  Inclusive design, gender equity, and social impact.
  •  Ethics, governance, and professional integrity in the built environment.

The conference reflects the strengths of collaboration in providing avenues for students, young and seasoned professionals to address complex challenges and opportunities in the phase of career or professional development. It further aims to provide opportunities for:

  • Innovation solutions to land degradation, tenure insecurity and informal settlements. Embracing advancements in Geospatial technology, AI-driven spatial data analysis and smart valuation tools.
  • Leading the voice that advocates for policies on inclusive, climate-smart and ethically sound development.
  • Focus on contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11, 13, 14, and 15.

Looking into the future, the conference envisioned the future projection in reimagining the role of land professionals in shaping urban development and the future of the environment. Contributing and recommending actionable national policy and legal frameworks, strengthen collaboration and partnerships amongst professional networks across sectors and borders.

 

Report by David Elegbede
Contributions from Nozipho Madlala and Fridah Mwangi
Published 27 November 2025