https://youtu.be/NDXrRXxtIVc
In celebration of GIS Day 2025, I hosted a free and open community webinar focused on introducing participants to the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using the urban area of Aba, Abia State, Nigeria as the core case study.
This event aligned with this year’s global theme, “Geo-Generalist Era: Where Spatial Meets Everything,” and brought together students, beginners, GIS professionals, educators, and anyone curious about spatial technology and location intelligence.
During the webinar, I guided attendees through:
• The meaning and importance of GIS
• A brief history of GIS, including Roger Tomlinson’s foundational work
• Evolution of Esri technology and modern tools such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and StoryMaps
• Overview of open-source GIS tools including QGIS
• Real-world applications of GIS across various sectors
• A practical workflow for mapping the urban landscape of Aba using free datasets from OpenStreetMap and satellite imagery from USGS
The goal of this GIS Day 2025 activity was to promote geospatial awareness, raise interest in spatial thinking, and encourage new learners to explore how GIS can support urban development, decision-making, and community-driven mapping initiatives in Nigeria.
As a Geospatial Analyst, I (Francis Otia) am passionate about expanding GIS literacy and empowering more people across Nigeria and Africa to understand how spatial technology can solve real-world problems. Hosting this Aba-focused GIS Day event was an opportunity to contribute to that mission.
If you participated in the session—or if you would like to watch the webinar recording—feel free to connect with me.
GIS Day reminds us that geography unites people and that spatial thinking is essential in today’s world.
Happy GIS Day 2025 to everyone across the Esri global community!
Keywords: GIS Day 2025, Francis Otia, Aba, Abia State Nigeria, ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Urban Mapping, GIS Webinar, Esri Community, Geospatial Analysis, Spatial Data, Mapping Nigeria.
https://youtu.be/NDXrRXxtIVc
