Sena Ghislain C. Adimou is a geospatial analyst and systems administrator at the African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is a stalwart champion of DE Africa, having been present from the early days of the program, watching as we have matured and expanded across the continent. AFRIGIST is one of a group of important partner organisations that DE Africa engages with in the continent, particularly given its wide reach and strong capacity building capabilities. We caught up with Sena to get to know person who is one of those who are instrumental in supporting the uptake and use of DE Africa's platform and services.
Sena serves as the Head of the Information and Communication Technologies Unit and lectures on programming and web mapping in the Cartography Department. With an IT background and a Master of Science in Geographic Information Sciences, he brings a set of technical and geospatial expertise to his role. As the focal point of the Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa) project at AFRIGIST, he coordinates activities to enhance the contribution of Earth Observation (EO) data to Africa’s sustainable development through capacity building. He is originally from Benin Republic.
How did you personally first learn about Digital Earth Africa?
I first learned about DE Africa when I was tasked with representing AFRIGIST at a meeting with the organisation. To effectively prepare, I had to research and familiarise myself with the project’s objectives, activities, and potential impact.
What motivated your organisation to become an implementing partner of DE Africa?
AFRIGIST, as an academic institution, shares a similar mission with DE Africa in capacity building. Our mandate is to contribute to the rapid and sustainable development of African nations by developing critical skills for the responsible use of geospatial information. Given this alignment, partnering with DE Africa was a natural step toward enhancing EO data utilisation in Africa.
Can you share a bit about your organisation, including its mission, focus areas, and how it integrates Earth Observation data into its work?
AFRIGIST is an intergovernmental joint institution for Africa, located within Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. It is bilingual (English and French) and holds full diplomatic status in Nigeria. Membership is open to all African countries, with eight current member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria (the host country), and Senegal.
The institute’s mission is to contribute to Africa’s rapid development by building capacity for the responsible use of geospatial information. Our focus areas include training in geospatial sciences and technologies such as photogrammetry, remote sensing, cartography, and geographic information systems (GIS). We conduct conferences, workshops, and refresher courses, in addition to carrying out research and offering consultancy services in geospatial data management. By integrating EO data into our training and research, AFRIGIST ensures that African professionals and decision-makers can leverage geospatial insights for sustainable development.
From your experience, what are the most significant benefits that DE Africa brings to your organisation and the communities you serve?
One of the biggest advantages of DE Africa is its provision of free and easy access to Analysis-Ready Earth Observation data. This has been invaluable to students, alumni, and stakeholders, particularly in AFRIGIST’s member countries, as it accelerates research and decision-making processes. The availability of EO data enables real-time planning and evidence-based policy development.
DE Africa also provides students with essential geospatial tools that enhance their professional skills, helping to build the next generation of African geospatial experts. By democratising access to EO data, the initiative significantly contributes to Africa’s progress toward sustainable development goals.
Why do you think Earth Observation data and data-driven insights are crucial for sustainable development in Africa?
In many African countries, decision-making is often influenced by perceptions, political interests, or incomplete data, leading to suboptimal policies and interventions. By leveraging EO data and data-driven insights, governments and organisations can make informed decisions in key areas such as agriculture, disaster management, environmental conservation, and urban planning.
Access to EO data improves food security monitoring, enhances disaster preparedness (for droughts and floods), supports sustainable water resource management, and informs urban development strategies. Ultimately, EO data is a powerful tool for promoting economic growth, protecting the environment, and improving societal well-being across Africa.
What challenges do you see in scaling the adoption of EO data across different sectors, and how can they be addressed?
Several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of EO data in Africa. Accessibility remains a major issue, as high-resolution data can be costly. Integrating EO data with existing datasets also presents difficulties, particularly for organisations lacking technical expertise. Additionally, inadequate infrastructure—such as unreliable internet and electricity—limits the ability of some countries to fully utilise geospatial technologies.
Other barriers include the lack of well-defined national policies on EO data usage and insufficient collaboration between sectors. To address these challenges, there is a need for improved data-sharing frameworks, increased investments in geospatial infrastructure, and stronger policies at both national and regional levels. Promoting intersectoral collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, and private enterprises can also drive EO data adoption.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of DE Africa, and how do you see your organisation contributing to that vision?
I envision DE Africa continuing to empower African stakeholders by providing accessible EO data for addressing critical challenges such as urbanisation, climate change, food security, and water resource management. AFRIGIST, in turn, will play a key role in bridging DE Africa with regional and international organisations to foster collaboration and resource-sharing.
Our institution will partner with universities, NGOs, and the private sector to scale the impact of EO data across multiple sectors. AFRIGIST will also contribute to Africa’s geospatial data infrastructure by supporting cloud-based platforms and data hubs that facilitate efficient processing and dissemination of EO data.
Through advisory and consultancy services, we will promote the adoption of EO data among government agencies responsible for agriculture, water management, disaster response, and urban planning. Additionally, AFRIGIST will continue training African professionals, policymakers, and students in geospatial technologies through workshops, certifications, and online courses, ensuring that EO data becomes an integral part of decision-making at national and regional levels. Finally, we will collaborate with DE Africa on research projects that develop new methodologies for data analysis and the integration of EO data into various applications, further advancing Africa’s sustainable development goals.