FIG Foundation - Building a Sustainable Future

Report from Ogochukwu Uju Izuegbu

FIG Foundation Young Surveyor Grant Recipient to attend the FIG Working Week 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam

ACKNOWLEGEMENT

My Acknowledgement goes to God Almighty for keeping me alive and making it possible for me to have an opportunity to attend this program. I sincerely thank the President of FIG (Prof. Rudolf Staiger), Vice President of FIG (Diane Dumashie) and President of FIG Foundation (Mr. John Hohol) for this initiative and for this support program to assist the Young Surveyors to have the opportunity to participate and nteract with other Young Surveyors and the Elders in the field of Surveying and Geoinformatics, which is requisite for our career progression. I thank the President of the Young Surveyors Network (Mrs. Melissa Harrington), Dr. Kwabena Asiama, and Donmarl Camua, for the carrying us along in the Young Surveyors programs. I appreciate Maria Bargholz, Claudia Stormoen Pedersen, Louise Friis-Hansen, Nguyet Hoang, Thuy Do, for the help they rendered in my Visa acquisition, procurement of my flight tickets, and accommodation. I appreciate all the Staff of FIG (International Federation of Surveyors and VGCR (Vietnam Association of Geodesy, Cartography and Remote Sensing), Leica Geosystems, for all the support given to me to make my stay comfortable. I thank the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation for the support given to me. I also want to appreciate my Family and Friends for the assistance given to me before, during and after the FIG Working Week.

Thank you all and God bless you all.

PREAMBLE

The FIG Foundation is a part of FIG (International Federation of Surveyors) that assists the Young Surveyors, by giving them grant to attend and participate in the FIG Working week in any country that would be hosting the FIG Working week. The Foundation also gives Scholarship and donation to Surveyors in continuing education. I, Izuegbu Ogochukwu Uju, from Nigeria, was able to get the grant to attend 2019 FIG Working week in Hanoi, Vietnam from July to July, 2019, alongside with Ruth Lailany Trujillo, Annika Avila, and Romina Yohana Leiva.


The FIG Foundation 2019 Grant Recipients.

PARTICIPATION

ACCOMMODATION AT INTERCONTINENTAL HANOI LANDMARK 72

The accommodation at Landmark 72 is world class. I enjoyed the luxury and the services rendered by the hotel Staff. I enjoyed the breakfast and other compliments. I appreciate FIG, for giving me the comfort and necessities.

3RD FIG YOUNG SURVEYORS NETWORK ASIA/PACIFIC MEETING.

I arrived Hanoi, on the 21st of April, 2019. I started by participating in 5th Young Surveyors Asia/Pacific Conference at Intercontinental Landmark 72. Mr. John Holol addressed the Young Surveyors, and he boosted our spirits with words of encouragement and optimism in the profession. I also listened to a lot of paper presentations from my Young Surveyor Colleagues, and I also made a presentation on the progress so far in Young Surveyors Network of Nigeria. At the end of the meeting, I was presented a Certificate of FIG Foundation Grant and Certificate of attendance.


The 2019 FIG Grant Recipients with the President of FIG Foundation (Mr. John Hohol).


The 2019 FIG Grant Recipients with the President of FIG Foundation (Mr. John Hohol) and FIG President (Prof. Rudolf Staiger).

FIG YOUNG SURVEYORS DINNER AT CHO QUES RESTAURANT

I had fun attending the dinner with others. I ate several nutritious Vietnam dishes. Vietnam has varieties of cuisine, and I enjoyed every bit of it during my stay there.


FIG Young Surveyors Dinner


Enjoying Hanoi City.


Enjoying Hanoi City/Beautiful Vietnamese Attire.

CONNECTING THE DOT

I fully participated in connecting the dot program. We were able to spell out the qualities of a Young Surveyor, which can help build ones career, and the possible challenges a Young Surveyor could face, which recommendations were given to tackle those problem. We also discussed on easy way of connection between Young Surveyors across the globe.

MAPPING THE PLASTIC

This session highlighted the issue of waste measurement in the water bodies using remote sensing, bathymetric, current measurement and topographical surveys of plastic waste along the banks of rivers.

MEETING WITH AFRICAN SURVEYORS REGIONAL NETWORK

 I was opportuned to attend this meeting, where I got to meet Surveyors from Africa, including Jennifer Whittal (FIG ARN Chair). We interacted, and discussed the African Young Surveyors Network meeting, that was held in Dakar, Senegal, in November, 2019.

FIG YSN CHARITY EVENT/ DANCE

It was a kind approach for FIG Young Surveyors Network being active and donating to charity. I learnt a lot of the local Vietnamese folk dance from veteran choreographers at National Convention Center (NCC) .I got to know their culture through dance. Their dance move was very spectacular and unique.

THE VIETNAMESE CULTURAL EVENING AT HANOI OPERA HOUSE

The carol was awesome. The venue was serene .The style of music was unique and edifying to the ear and soul enriching. I enjoyed every bit of it. I saw a lot of musical equipment and the style with which the Vietnamese used it to produce the music.

THE GALA DINNER PARTY

The dinner was overwhelming, memorable and enjoyable. The Vietnamese entertained us with music and dance. I enjoyed the food and drinks that was served. I enjoyed the dance at the stage with my colleagues. I enjoyed the attention Mr. John Hohol gave us the FIG Foundation beneficiaries; I equally enjoyed the whole interactions at the dinner party. It was awesome, it was fun-filled.

CONCLUSION

The 2019, FIG Working Week with the Theme: “Geospatial Information for a Smarter Life and Environmental Resilience”, was an awesome program. I am thankful for the Knowledge impacted on me and I was able to assimilate so much within few days. It provided an environment for me as a Young Surveyor to meet Surveyors/GIS Experts of different cultures, countries, academic qualifications and professional experience to discuss the issues facing our regions, and plan for a resilient future. I was able to come in contact with the experts from academia, governments/public administration and industry in the Field of Survey, Remote Sensing and GIS technology. The exposure and participation is very useful to me for my career progression.