Flooding in Nigeria, GIS, Fighting Covid, and Getting Lost with Taiwo Ogunwumi

Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! 

On today’s episode, we talk with Taiwo Ogunwumi, GIS and DRR Consultant, and president of the GEO Hazard Risk Mapping initiative,  about flooding in Nigeria, GIS, Fighting COVID, and Getting Lost in the field.   Read his full bio below.

Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form

Showtimes:
0:01  Intro

0:52  Shout outs

1:42  Nic and Laura talk about the Olympics

10:43  Interview with Taiwo Ogunwumi starts

16:00  Taiwo talks about flooding in Nigeria

22:37  Taiwo discusses his Geo hazard risk mapping initiative 

26:19  Taiwo talks about GIS and Covid-19 response effort

29:43  Taiwo shares his interesting "getting lost" story

32:20  Taiwo talks about his current location, travel and free time

44:46  Outro

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This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.

Connect with Taiwo Ogunwumi at www.taiwoogunwumi.com or through LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/taiwo-ogunwumi/.

Guest Full Bio:
Taiwo Ogunwumi is a geo-information management professional, DRR Consultant and Environmental Researcher specialized in disaster risk and vulnerability assessment, emergency planning, and humanitarian response.

He had his first degree in Geography and is currently studying for a master's in Environmental risks at the United Nations University. In addition, he is a tutor at the University of Bonn, Germany teaching over 15 International students on the use of Geographic Information systems to address climate change impacts (natural hazards). Taiwo has published on International journal topics related to Flooding, Drought and Climate Change and is also a GIS consultant to the UN-Migration supporting their Covid-19 response program for Internally Displaced Persons in Northeastern Nigeria. Taiwo is also an active contributor to the Africa Youth Advisory Board for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Founder of an Initiative called Geohazard Risk Mapping Initiative (www.georiskmap.org), coordinating over 30 Geospatial Analyst Volunteers (Nigeria and Africa), and steering the organization towards its vision of promoting sustainability and reducing the vulnerability of communities to natural hazards and other environmental risks through the creations of hazard maps and vulnerability assessment to support the national emergency institutions.

Music Credits
Intro

Transcript

Transcript is auto transcribed

[Intro]

Nic 
Hello and welcome to EPR with your favorite environmental enthusiast, Nick and Laura. On today's episode, we give our shout outs, Laura, I discussed watching the Olympics, we sit down with Taiwo Ogunwumi. Wait, I thought you were supposed to read the hard ones I don't know.

Laura
Hey I invited him. You have to say it.

Nic
I know I know that's right. That's right. So we do we sit down to talk about flood response in Nigeria, how GIS can support efforts combating COVID-19 and getting lost in literally the middle of nowhere. And then finally, you are 10 times more likely to get bitten by a New Yorker man a shark.  I think that makes a lot of sense I think I'm surprised at anybody, actually. But, as always, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it that music.

[Shout outs]

Laura 
Shout outs for today go to Carol Snead environmental project manager at Oregon Department of Transportation and NAEP board member and Bill Plumpton Senior Vice President and Principal environmental scientist at Gannett Fleming, and an NAEP fellow for Bill for doing such a wonderful job for the last few years as the chapters lead, and for Carol for taking over him, for him recently. So thank you both for helping our chapters, stay engaged with us, and doing great things. Also don't forget to check out any NAEP Environmental professionals connection which is environmental hub for articles research studies and leadership blogs from hundreds of leading sources. Check it out at environmentalprofessionalsconnection.com.

If you'd like to sponsor a future episode, please head on over to environmentalprofessionalsradio.com and check out the sponsor forum for details. Let's get to our segment.

[Nic and Laura's segment]

Nic  
I don't know we could talk about the Olympics. Have you been watching it at all.

Laura 
We could talk about the Olympics and No, it's okay to say that I'm not watching the Olympics but I don't watch a lot of TV, and I don't. It's like if someone sent me a video and said you need to watch this I probably would. But yeah I kind of didn't even really know what was going on and talking about it so I yeah I know it's happening.

Nic 
So funny. Well, I mean, you know, it's, it is every four years and I guess this is five years. It's a crazy thing, it probably shouldn't even be happening. They probably should have cancelled it. But this was one of those things where the money basically didn't allow that to happen like you had, they had to do it, the contracts were like yeah you can postpone, but only for a year and, or whatever it is, it's like you can't cancel it so they had to do anything for it, you know,

Laura  
It sounds like our conference. You know how tricky that was just for our conference like hang out, yeah, yeah, You know how tricky it'd be that sort of scale so it makes a lot of sense.

Nic 
It does, and you're totally right like contracting guys like a lot of you don't know it's like what wait you know why does this take so long, why is it so hard to contracting is written so that you can't get out of it, that's the whole point. You know pandemic be damned, you know, it's,

Laura  
It's probably why a lot because people are there's some events you'll see that are backing down again, and then there's other ones that are you're like, how come that one's still happening, it's probably contractual

Nic 
It's probably contractual yeah probably probably is so

Laura
There's someone who's saying you're not good yeah you're not gonna ask anyway.

Nic 
Right, exactly. And, you know, it's I think it's like the Olympics in general we kind of used to be the pinnacle of, like, you know, athletic achievement and all this other fun stuff but it ends up being just a country

Laura 
Well is it? Isn't that the whole question now like has it ever really been Yeah, yeah, spin the spin on it,

Nic 
because this is the thing with sports right as they have advanced stats now they're like oh yeah like my favorite one actually is basketball right we're like, they had the three point shot, or, you know, decades before they realized, oh it's worth more than two, we should probably take more threes, right, which is so funny to me because it's so obvious it's like yeah you should be better at the shot that counts more, so practice that, but like for the Olympics, it was like, Oh, these don't make money at all. This bankrupts cities, every city that has them had you know, so it's a real challenge on just that front, and then you add COVID to it and maybe that's, I think the ratings are way, way down some of that's probably related to, you know streaming in general, because people aren't watching the same way they used to, especially not for, you know, five years ago. So,

Laura 
no I was just gonna say I don't have any actual numbers but it feels like there's just less people with cable and the Olympics came on cable all right so yeah now, now, like same for me. That's why I don't see it I don't have like a TV Guide and schedule to see what's happening at a time.

Nic 
Yeah, we actually only have the NBC, sort of like the because they're depending on a whole bunch of channels. And so we have the air channel you know you can get the broadcast network that's the only thing, but it's also weird you know because you can actually know the results of like almost everything before it happens or very few things that are live. And so like that also kind of takes out of it a bit like they did a good job with this one, I like the swimming for whatever reason, I don't know why I just really enjoy the swimming competition, Part of it, and I don't know, I watched.

Laura 
So what's the respect the actual sports I mean some of the, oh yeah, like, regardless of whether they are the elitist of the elite, which was in a lot of cases they are, I don't take any of that but yeah, some of it's really cool to just be like, Man, that's pretty awesome.

Nic  
Yeah, for sure. And yeah, it's just kind of a crazy, crazy sports but there's like also random sports like handball that show up and I'm like, What on earth is this?

Laura
Well, isn't skateboarding in this year?

Nic
yeah skateboarding is in.

Laura
I mean, it took long enough.

Nic
Yeah, we have, you know it's funny though like I didn't think it was very interesting, the free skate was better, but like, there was one or two just doing tricks, and they try to do one trick, five times, and hopefully they don't fail four times, is what it seemed like, and so it was just crazy it was, it was really boring, like that one was really boring I was really disappointed, and it kind of was weird because it's like a you know a skateboard cultural is probably anti Olympics. I don't want to say that necessarily,

Laura 
but yeah, now that I mean, as with almost anything, there's people who are foreign people who are not.

Nic 
Right, yeah. But it was just funny, because I just didn't think I thought it would be more interesting, I thought, I grew up playing like Tony Hawk on video games,

Laura
You thought it was going to be like Tony Hawk doing crazy stuff.

Nic
Yeah, make the Free skate was kind it was more fun, but yeah just doing the tricks I was like just doing one trick, like I mean, I had to string together 137 in a row, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater four, so I'm just saying.

Laura 
Exactly. It is it is almost like cool you bladed your kickflip now let's see all the other things you can do and get to the end,

Nic 
I know, right yeah I know I know, and so we already went down a rail . But they went on a rail of 12 steps I'm like okay, I love you guys not seen YouTube before cuz that happens.

Laura 
Like that's not even I had friends that were doing things more extreme than that. Yeah, but that's not all with extreme sports, right, there's probably like form and all that which, again, skateboarding shouldn't only be about form. It should be about landing a sick trick.

Nic  
yeah it's it's actually it's more about falling on your ass

Laura
and walking away that's where I call it falling really hard.

Nic
Yeah. Yeah, exactly, exactly. It's just like, actually I love this. My wife's dad got Lauren a skateboard for Christmas. And he was like

Laura
recently,

Nic
No. No, when they were kids. When she was a kid and he's like, I don't see what the big deal is this is easy this is probably not that hard, so he got on the skateboard immediately slipped and broke his elbow.

Laura
Yeah, the skateboard is supposed to come with shoulder, not shoulder pads that's a whole different. Yeah. Elbow, and knee pads.

Nic
Yeah, yeah, which she had, and he didn't wear.

Laura
But I don't think I ever wore pads that was not cool.

Nic
Right, exactly. I didn't either.

Laura
At least no one else kid.

Nic
Yeah, but you know I also didn't skate so that guys that's kind of why

Laura
I got my skate shirt on today so that, you know that makes a lot of sense.

Nic
Yeah, that's fine. I had a lot of skateboard friends, but not me, as well the boards were not cheap, like a good one, if I remember correctly, it was like 100 and something dollars, so that wasn't cheap. Yeah,

Laura  
and actually I talked to a guy that owns a skate shop here in Syracuse, they just opened Flower skate shop and they are. He was telling me that the price because of the price of wood is so high like the price of skateboards is like four times. And really hard to get so, things you don't think of

Nic 
Yeah, man, it's what's funny is, like, this is absolutely a college story but like, my roommate and I bought a skateboard, just the board, we couldn't afford the wheel. We were like, Yeah, we were like we were learning how to flip the the board, you know, without the wheels on it which doesn't make any sense but we're like yes so awesome, really good wheels, and then we'll be able to rent it because there's only one of them. There's two of us. It was not, there's not much time. So, I still think not one of mine finest moments.

Laura
Well anything else in the Olympics, you've been watching.

Nic
So you say swimming is my favorite. You know, I try to get in track and field, when I can. I saw the US Men's Basketball team win I was good I was cool. But yeah, the rest of the world is much better at basketball than they used to be, which is kind of funny, which is kind of the joy of the Olympics right you bring the sports they don't about and to other areas of the country or the world and they pick it up, and that's absolutely what happens

Laura  
I still like to see the global competition just like getting outside of your own country's bubble.

Nic 
Yeah, yeah it's really neat, and you'll see some countries that you probably would never have heard of doing really well in sports, you know, and I think there was one of the, one of the track medals. I think it was the 200, or maybe the 400. He was a 400 meter dash, like the guy that was from the Bahamas and he's just, that's his thing, and he's great at it. And it's really cool, you know, and it's the Jamaica's greatest sprinting, you know there's other countries that you just, you know like oh yeah that's really cool to see them be really great at these things and Kenyan run long distance runners kind of stuff. It's just really neat.

Laura 
I will never not think of cool writings anytime in an Olympic sport

Nic  
100% 100% And that's the

Laura
Which gives away my age, and at this point I think we could get to our interview.

Nic
All right, cool. With our international, we have our first international guests so okay that ties right in. So, let's do it.

[Interview with Taiwo Ogunwumi starts]

Laura  
Welcome back to EPR today we have a very special guest, Taiwo Ogunwumi is on the show, I might have said that name wrong, Taiwo would you tell us your name please.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Yes, my name is Taiwo Ogunwumi. Thank you so much and I can tell you that you  pronounced my name so well.

Laura 
thank you, do my best over here. I've been following Taiwo on LinkedIn for a while and the work that he, he's doing is just awesome so I'm super excited just to have him on the show and talk about the projects in, I'm not sure how I think through some of my GIS professional connections on LinkedIn is how I've been following him but he's doing work in Nigeria Germany and other places around the world so welcome Taiwo.

Taiwo Ogunwumi  
Thank you so much, Laura. I mean it's so very good. Glad to be here today to be on the same podcast with you, I mean super interesting to see all your amazing work and very glad to be here today thank you so much.

Laura 
Awesome. So you have a lot of projects I don't even know where to begin to introduce you, so why don't you tell us a little bit about the work that you do.

Taiwo Ogunwumi  
That's basically just like you mentioned, a lot of projects, I mean when you tell me that I just feel like I have a lot of projects it's scary or sometimes. But actually I'm a geoinformation professional, and environmental risk researcher. At the same time, I've been a information management consultant, and I have a background in geography at the same time. So my experience working within the humanitarian organization supporting them with my GIS use, alone, I mean, over a year, had a great interest about  environments, and most importantly climate change impacts I've been in my core interest so you know it's entirely towards, you know I call myself like the fact that I'm a GIS professional, I'm an environmental researcher. At the same time I'm a DRR consultant.

Nic 
Yeah, and it's a it's incredible a long list of things which is really neat but so we'll start with geography, what got you into it.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Yes, basically, Geography. I mean, all started after my university, sort of, after my secondary education will call it high school down in the United States. I really want to be an accountant. But, I mean there's an entry exam that you have to do to become an accountant, so I couldn't make it so well to become an accountant, and I decided to offer geography, it's more than what I really want to do as post, why you want to go to school we Nigeria and call you based on the model is the first one the best green engineer, though, is a Federal University of Georgia. So, how to prep for geography, and I'm a fourth year you know how to get along because, I mean, it become more of a thing now. And then a year two, year three, I got super more interested and that was when I discovered GIS. My first, you know GIS course in the third year. And I got my first A in the course I mean I can recall this is my first A, I never had an A. I mean I had a lot of Bs. Yeah. I mean, so the GIS course in year three that it was super interesting so I did. And that's what gets me more into, you know, geography, and GIS.

Nic 
that's great. And,

Laura 
 oh, I was just, we know what I was looking at your history and he said, geography, I was just wondering how you got there, so thanks for telling us that. And then, school is different, obviously in Nigeria that isn't us, and I'm curious though. Like, if you if so if geography wasn't something that you'd like you kind of fell into it, it sounds like, what's it been like learning about the environment and climate change and all of where you've kind of gone from just geography to what you're doing now.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
I think it tells me so much super interesting because whether we like it or not, I mean, the environment shapes us all the time it tells us what we do in general are equally shatter concerns, even if you're a lawyer, definitely you exist in space, and the environmental process shapes wherever you are trained as matter of fact you know the soil. the water, the rocks, the trees, those are resources that equally shape your existence. So finding myself as a geographer and someone is more passionate about environmental topic precisely. It's a great joy for me. And you know, understanding our nature, you know, shapes, both at the same time understanding how the human impacts on the environment. It's one of the key things I have a problem after my university I begin to understand more about you know climate change. I mean, despite the fact that our school, we've talked about climate, weather and so many other, you know, elementary things like that. Begin to shed more light to see you know climate change impacts, And I grew up in a place whereby the community, by we often tend to offloading would need that they will know that oh well, flooding comes as several factors, what our mind or natural factor is begin to contemplate a well these are majorly attributed to climate change. So in this case, the more interested in each other's environments shape, and its you know, during my career in that particular light because I feel that, you know, generally, all over the world, it becomes we associate that we need to very you know, clean up our environments, examine the process, study it, And then it's then determines how we can place ourselves in the environment.

Nic 
Yeah, yeah, and that's really well said and actually made it sparked something for me like if you work in like flood hazard response you mentioned that flooding in particular, you know work there in Nigeria and so the in the US we develop and update flood maps across the country. So does Nigeria have a similar program to that, and how involved are you in developing those flood protection maps.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Oh wow, super interesting. I'm going to discuss that, and then the thing is, like I said earlier, there's consistence flood, not just west Africa alone, not just the Nigeria. As a matter of fact statistically proven flood is still one of the, you know, highly or core, you know, natural hazards. And as a matter of fact, in Nigeria, precisely we keep having floods every year, every every year government obviously excellently in providing environmental maps, but those maps, they are not in detail to the community. So imagine you see me map that shows the States that's gonna be flooded you get my point, now. I need to know the level of flood risk of my country. So if you tell me that my country should be flooded and it should last for only the week, obviously I would not run. I would be so good if you can equally know the level of flood risk, whether I should go, or  where do I, or where do we go.  So this gave me, you know, the idea of spend so much much more time as a GIS professional, you know, I have a very good passion about environment and climate change impacts. Then I just discovered that oh well let me have an initiative that can bring together Friends. Most of my mentees who I mentor who is being GIS to come together and see how can we use our skills, so we reduce flood impacts in Nigeria. I believe so when that when people are better prepared, right. They can behave, you know, to cover the impact, even if flood flooding comes way up so for instance on this podcast now, you know, I got an invitation so um so to get a hold today, this time, this might happen, you get an early warning. Also very important so any sort of initiative that brings about youths together to see how we can prepare for flood, for the people because these happen every year a lot who lose their houses, not just us alone, not just for parties on land, we also lose the ecosystem. Remember, we lose ecosystem tree mangrove, It goes deteriorated due to this natural hazard, you know, don't forget environment control our resources so this be in my passion to do this. Currently my own country we don't have local context flood relief map, you know map that will make us better prepared. And as a matter of fact, not just this alone. We see people are very vulnerable with me vulnerable means, you know, access to early warning information, you get better preparedness when is available, it makes them. It makes us be able to manage climate change impacts, you know as much as you know climate is in existence or the impacts might continue, but the same time we need to adapt. So that's one lead to, you know my contribution to see how I can, you know, support the national government, our demonstration in my home country with flood risk map. And as far as you know generally within the own nation.

Nic  
That's incredible. That's great work that's really, I'm really excited to hear more about that as it comes through. That's really cool.

Laura 
I'm just smiling I'm like this is so cool to be able to talk to somebody, what it's evening time their time zones away and talk about these issues and the work that you're doing so cool. So, you're also writing research paper on climate change perception by the community members in Nigeria. So, how's that going What prompted you to write it.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Yes, I, you know, I, you know, we aware of the whole talk on climate change, on TV on radio, you know they are different from people, and not everybody is well educated, not everybody's studying geography. So imagine I'm an accountant, I don't worry my climates, I only wake up in the morning I see sun. I wake up in the sun is rainfall, just, climate change, I don't know what you're talking about. So despite the fact that, you know, we are different people who just hear about climate change, who google online for some sort of definition. People don't even know why it's a natural hazard. Can one know why this, you know where it is occurrence of some natural evil they wonder why we have incentives, people don't know why we have cyclones, as some part of the world, right, in the context of my country, to know what your position about climate change, because I believe that your perceptions shapes your response to anything. Right. So in order to know. Oh well, this is what I perceive about money, and I'm going to know how I can make money, or probably I'm going to know what I should use money to do so, essentially. So, the project is essentially to know what are people's perception about climate change their level of awareness. We are about to imaging before we are aware about it, so it's just to be able to know. And through this, the results of this research, we will make it very easy to advocate more people don't even know their contribution towards climate change, right, in so many commented upon unforeseens that us, you know, greenhouse gases, they are not aware of the perception that this is having, you know on the environment itself. They don't know so honestly if you attempt to know. So, if we do this research and look at the doubt, of what is going on, then they can be more sensitized, they can be more you know that there will be a possibility to increase your awareness about climate change and the causes of it. I believe that if we are looking forward to a better future. Right. It is very important that people are aware of our human contribution to nature. Yes How are our actions is affecting the environment without the assertion, so that was a major goal behind me working on this project.

Laura 
What a great initiative so far along are you in the project.

Taiwo Ogunwumi  
Yes, right now, I think, still data collection, originally love the concept, the literature or the framework about it but now the most important is the data collection needs in Nigeria precisely so then I reached out to  some of my friend there for data to do collection for me, and these were in a very local context, not really a national thing. Because maybe he gets, definitely. Hopefully it'll get better. I also write some you know, a key opinion, you know, right off to the guidance there last sometime last month, and it's on understanding climate change, as a hazard. So it's there is an article that tries to look at relationship between climate change and disclose hazards and other like floods, desertification and the likes.

Laura  
Yeah. Anybody who does it was into GIS and interested in environmental issues around the world and flood risk assessments, all these things, you should definitely be following Taiwo he's always sharing and putting all this great information. Another thing he's working on is Geohazard risk mapping initiative. So, tell us about that one,

Taiwo Ogunwumi  
Geohazard risk map initiative was established last year. And one of the goal is that we'll see how we can deploy youths  skilled in GIS to address the issue of climate change impacts in Nigeria, and Africa. And when we looked in Nigeria we realized that's one of the major climate impact that we feel every year is flooding. Yeah. So, and then my exposure or my experience might be different experience my work experience and maybe to understand that. GIS is already very good tool that will can be used to  model the environment, model nature. Yeah, so that was the first bedrock, the second bedrock is the fact that I look at the sustainable development Goal 11. Does Goal 11  and 13. Eleven is all about sustainable cities and community. How can we make the cities sustainable. If there are several natural hazards and make the people to better prepared. Secondly climate action. Yet we noticed this climate change already, to what extent can we have a platform that travels as possible, to bring up option to reduce climate change impacts, and as in reason why we are initiating the initiative has a lot of youths close to 35. And who are very good action geographic information system technology to create maps, What do we need this map to do. We map plot within several communities in Nigeria, and we try as much as possible, to share this map with an emergency institution at state and federal level, because we believe that that's something that we can support them, they are doing so excellently. They are part, and then they are trying to make up for national and state level, when we go down to community level. So down to the local context so that people can be better aware for flooding, yet so that's one of the goal of the initiative and so far so good. We were able to make a lot of map, just to watch in five months. And at the same time, we host several international events, to see how we can contribute to, you know mapping video flow footprints, because you know when you see a place to be flooded, it's also good for us to know how many view this. Before that,   how the initiative does during the last four months was that we develop a web platform, which is accessible to the public, where you can search for your community, with my house is to your own house so it also super interesting making the making yourself to know your flood risk level, hopefully, we hope that there will be more advancement in Nigeria that what we get in Nigeria to serve technology that can be making a better look and making better use of it. That't the overall goal of the initiative so, you know, it's just to you know to reduce climate change impacts and make much better people support the national government.

Nic 
Yeah, that's great work, it's really good point to, like, so every community is different every flood risk is different for different people and everybody cares about the risk to their house everybody cares to the risk of their properties, their things. And so it's a great, great thing that you're doing. And I have to say, for those of you listening, if you think Taiwo not doing enough. Don't worry, he's doing more. You're also a GIS consultant to the UN Migration Agency supporting the COVID-19 response program for internationally displaced persons in northeastern Nigeria. Another really cool thing that you have on your plate. So, help me understand how does GIS help support the COVID-19 response.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
You know while drought in Nigeria that's a problem in Nigeria that's an insurgency, that displaces a lot of people, coupled with the issue of climate change. We have caught losses to water, water security in that particular place so this makes a lot of international organization to combat, They're to come to the rescue to support them to create a water for them, you know, provide food for them, but as an industry level. And that's what professional organizations are doing in that zone. So, coupled with COVID-19 are emerging. A lot of people living in a camp, you know, a small town that contain six to seven people. So you imagine it was so good before Covid-19 that they could live together, but COVID-19 strike, and there'll be a lot more a lot more gonna happen in this regards. So that's one problem. Second problem is the fact that access to water washing their hands so there are so many has been done by UN migration in Nigeria, you know, within all the camps to provide water indoor sanitation to do IQ promotion. What is my major rather GIS experts, need to be able to map access to go develop a database to map several facilities within the camps At the same time, it might also be very important for us to use GIS to be able to map, places that we can be able to drink local and get water. That's what we call groundwater mapping. So you see our experience in that regards, you normally only new material context. I think you need to do is to create a dashboard, interacting with web platform dashboard that people got that a project manager can interact with and be able to know how many beneficiaries we have, how many water and washing stations we have, because in a way COVID-19 comes on become very important that the actual install hand washing stations, you know, whether you're going to wash their hand regularly to get to reduce the transmission. So, how to map all this, this means you know, GIS also have to teach the field team to collect some solid, you know, geocoded solid, that is so who can know. But what can you call this information. So many program, the one that involved on that panic was positive about COVID-19 Also, when they need in order to collect data on this, which geo information, which can be mapped to and use it to make a map, make it you know, Determine the spatial variation in the portion of the community, especially distribution in the hand washing station that at a glance, if you look at a camp you can know, oh well, we are 20 hand washing stations here. This place is place has plenty, let's look at one over here. So that was my major goal there as a consultant. So, creating map, building database for them at the same time creating an interactive dashboard that a project manager can use to to assess the project impacts.

Nic 
This is incredible stuff. Yeah, that's now. And something I think a lot of us take for granted, I mean just being able to wash your hands, it's a simple thing but, but it isn't everywhere. That's a really, Really really great work you're doing.

Laura 
Yeah So, speaking of what it's like to live in other parts of the world and in places we're not familiar with Taiwo, I would love to know if you have any stories, we'd like to talk to people about the work they've done out in the environment and in nature and in the fields, I was wondering if in your GIS work if you've done very much work in the field.

Taiwo Ogunwumi  
Oh yes, I've had a lot of travels with a great consultant I used to work with one Bangladesh now NGO as a GIS officer in there, and you know I had to go to feed with some  some local field collector. The data collector precisely to supervise them. So on this note I traveled to one part of Nigeria and on getting to the field, unfortunately for me obviously. Fortunately, I was alone. I mean, I really lose track of those guys who are the localized one. My phone is off, I am not speaking the language, starting point. And I was just having a look around thought today, you're speaking in different languages, outside Nigeria, like, Oh my God, what do I do in this place was asked me, How can you access to my phone. And this is an insecure zone, where you are alone to terrorist. So, I mean, I've never been so scared in my life like that before, I know that because people always tell me where gentleman is not safe. It is very careful, you go into the field is so dangerous. The passion I have for the people. The passion that I have for the for the sector itself made me just dedicate myself to use my skill, we get a lot of people who use their GIS to health sectors of GIS to transport to the analyst to just make my own to suggestions of activities at the same time just to you know, environmental assessment and analysis. So, you know, one of the things I can't, at that point in time, which I can never forget, I mean can't I mean, it's one of those things that you have to on the go.

Nic 
Yeah, of course it was. Yeah, it was comedies always tragedy plus time so at the time I'm sure it was scary, but looking back, you're like man wasn't that something, you know, it's always a story to tell. It really is. So, yeah, I'm glad you made it back I'm glad you're good. Oh man, yeah that's that's a tough one. It's a tough one to be in for sure.

Laura 
All right, so we know that you do do a lot of work in Nigeria, do you actually live in Nigeria.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Not a moment. At the moment I'm currently in Germany. And while I'm in Germany is the fact that I'm currently doing my Masters, and the United Nations University in Germany. Doing the Masters, with the University of Bonn, and United Nations University, and I'm studying environment risk I mean, my master's in environmental risk, and human security. So you see how that really relates together. Yeah, for sure. At the moment I'm not in Nigeria. Do I mean, all my projects, is from a country, local what they do is their  a lot of contribution to my country, I get a lot of people as me, Taiwo are you still in the country?  We don't understand, are you still in Nigeria or are you in Europe or only on your phone, we still have access to your line, your Nigerian line. You didn't change it.  Yes, I still didn't change it.  I'm still in Germany. Yeah, I mean I'm just here for my program. So, I only have a simple project that I've done here in Germany, and is on drugs in Germany. So how are they publications and couple of months ago on drugs in Germany, and I think that's the only place I've been here ever our projects. Been majorly in Nigeria because you know, I always hear that, you know, countries like Europe we have a running system. We have a lot of these few, I mean some experience they can share in my country. I mean for the moment I'm in Europe, hopefully it will take me back to my country soon.

Laura 
Have you travelled a lot, do you have a favorite place.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Oh yes. I was in Amsterdam. I'm traveling to France, this weekend.

Nic  
Oh wow, awesome. Yeah,

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Yes this is this weekend anyway. I mean this Saturday anyway, Like in the south of France and I cannot wait to be in Belgium, in the month. So, my favorite country, is that I would love to be is the United States.

Nic  
Oh nice, yeah

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
And forecasted on his podcast I would love to be in the United States. It is a very good country, I like. Yeah, I love to travel, you know, travel has been my passion from small, even though you know you know your desire to travel at the same time as someone who's in Africa. Yeah so many, many, you know, constraints, traveling man that must be a very substantial cause of your traveling, you don't just see what it was embassy to  any other country to do so. He comes on the now that I mean I can access several out of European countries, with, you know, went to France, went to Belgium  at some point. It's super good to see a new city, to learn a new culture, and that's why I really enjoy to eat new foods, even though I would like to see the new the new teas. So it's a very good thing for me. I always like to do is like, visit the museum. I do this sometimes to see, visit the museum. Also go to the forest to see Nature, you have a good sense in good air quality in contrast to where we have here in Bonn city, hopefully by the end of the year the count will be like 10 countries, not sure.

Laura  
You'll have to tell us when you're coming to the US.

Nic 
Yeah, for sure.

Taiwo Ogunwumi
I will definitely tell you for sure.

Laura 
That way, I will tell you when I'm coming to Nigeria or wherever,

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
I will really host you. I will take it to the, to the most, most most most, you know, ghettos in Nigeria at the same time, the city and I'm super sure you enjoy yourself. And you will like the people there you now the culture by the impression I have it is a very good country. You should come, someday.

Laura 
I was already thinking why isn't NAEP, we need some NAEP travel groups or something.

Nic  
yeah yeah seriously that'd be really fun. Yeah, I'd love to go, and it'd be great to visit and I can see it travel is so much more fun to when you have someone that you know, in a country because you learn a lot more about it, you know, is you can do like the tour you can go to the special space, space and like oh yeah, this is what everybody's seen but you know, really get a feel for it. You know, so who places. What I'm trying to say is Laura and I will take you up on. That's what we're saying. So, exactly.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
I gave you this today. Today, when you want to visit Nigeria let me know. Come fly to the country anytime. I mean, right, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I'll take you out of Lagos, Nigeria to so you can, he can also see more because they noticed an Nigeria is as a different, you know, climates and in different environments, precisely, they have less rainfall. So, I mean that I'm going to call it, an arid region. In contrast to the southwestern parts, so it's a very very nice place to have a lot of you know culture. You can see and different, different languages, was going to be super fun, and I'm so much knowledgable about  Lagos. So

Nic 
yeah, those are really cool, that would be really really cool. And we're getting close to the end of our time here, so what do you do, we're not working what what do you do for fun. What is your fun, your hobbies, your favorite one.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
I think outside working, I mean a lot of people tell me I work too much.

Nic 
Right, right. Yes, yes I am.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
I will come, I'm not even sure you don't even enjoy your life. All the time you're on the computer. I call you today you're on the computer. Two days I call you. What are you doing, you're more than making one impact making one if it will come have more fun. Oh yes, I think, right now in Europe. One thing I do mostly is that in the weekend, I go to stream. Take my bicycle ride all over to see new places, you know, within the city. That's two.  Three. I see movies sometimes just on a random moment so, to be frank, I don't really do much of fun, only go in and out the truth is like we'll see that when you you laughter is true, but that's fine. Obviously I do anyway. Like,

Nic 
I know you're speaking. I think both of us are the same, it's just, sometimes we get wrapped up in it and it's been hours they're like, How late is it

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
the only word existent is space. So more, so much cleaner vows, I mean I know that Nick also the person that works much, yeah. Obviously, I mean, I play football sometime Australian, just random fun. You get why consider I dedicate my time to do much of walks. I spend most time thinking about innovation. At the same time, because I mean, sometimes people will tell me, Taiwo, is there anyway you will free sort of free, I say I'm not sure I have any free time. We use it for free time. Free time here. Yeah, everyday come with an agenda. What are we going to do. Are we do it. And I think I'm not gonna spend my time doing much more is to support youths within the industry, most surely the environmental industry and GIS industry precisely who is coming up, who need support, I realized that, you know a lot of people engaged in our send me messages on my LinkedIn on Twitter who will say oh well, Please, I don't know I look at your page, or look at your story, and I really want to be like that. So I think one of the nice spend my time doing a side by side is to dedicate, you know to advice to guide people, you know, young youths, or like average graduate, or you know how best projects and how  are you in your career, and things like that. So I think there's nothing I do aside from myself, you know, and at the same time to think I spend time with my family anyway.

Nic 
Yeah. It's always, it's important you got to put time and you had a fun time, no matter what you got to find some time for family. Yeah, you have to.

Laura 
That's great. So I was thinking, yeah, if we do come to visit Nigeria, let us know when you have a project you need volunteers for, so we can combine that world travel thing.

Nic 
Yeah, so there you go.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Oh, that's interesting. I'm gaining two international volunteers Oh well, that's what he says is, anyway, I think this is definitely a lot of projects. I'll keep you guys updated, bring more people, we need more people more expert like you not doing just a volunteer more experts like you.

Nic 
Yeah.

Laura 
Yeah, well we potentially have a lot of experts listening so how, if someone wants to contribute or support the work you're doing, how can they do that.

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
Yeah, the moment I want is I mean, I look forward to have professionals who are really really into environmental impact assessment. GIS to make an introduction, you know researcher expert  and consultants, I mean, I would really love to have because I have many initiatives to do right now, because I mean, I need more professional experts to offer  tech support people who are experts in  flood family doctors and professionals, in this regard seeking for most, most of them at the same time probably be in the space industry, you know, people use elevation data sets to do lots more of family environments and cultivated people. ex pats precisely. So to do that, I think, probably, can access  me on my LinkedIn, definitely. Taiwo S. Ogunwumi, on my through my Initiative website, www. georiskmap.org So, we know, pretty much, when to call or access really for get together, collaboration, most especially, we will address the issue of climate change impacts so we can have a better risk management in how can we call. Risk, Risk solution to climate change. Generally on that context, because I feel that you know you can't ever major issues in the world. It's not for a single professional. You know there must be an heavy collaboration, there must be, you know, several ideas coming from different people together, and I believe this is the only way to be able, you know, better and sustainable environment.

Laura
absolutely.

Nic 
Yeah, I couldn't agree more. So, yeah, I mean that's basically our time and like I say it's been so great having you on a lot of really fun stories a lot of really great work you're doing. And now we know you're working too much. So, you know, what Hey, it's okay, you know, like I say you're in good company. So, it's great, great work. Thank you so much for being here.

Laura 
It's very inspiring. Thank you so much, was great talking to you and look forward to that trip whenever we can make that happen.

Nic 
for sure. For sure,

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
You should definitely make it happen. Because now, I'm holding you both to it on this day you come into my home country.

Nic 
It's recorded yeah yeah,

Taiwo Ogunwumi 
good to see what and also I want to commend you for all your are doing. I mean, bringing people together from all over the world. I mean, regardless of the race, or the ethnicity, diverse super interesting, hopefully, is a platform whereby you know, people can hear, I mean, I listened to all the previous podcasts this year and it has been super interesting and I learned a lot from all of highly influential people in the world and it's really you know it's so inspirational. Thank you for all that you are doing.  I appreciate it.

Laura
Yeah, thank you very much, and it's always really fun to talk to everyone.

Nic
It really is. Yeah, love different because it brings different perspectives we learn some new things about you know from you this week that we wouldn't have if we didn't talk to you. I love that. Thank you.

Laura  
Yep, thanks Taiwo.

Taiwo Ogunwumi
Thank you

[Outro]

Laura
 That's our show. Thank you Taiwo for joining us all the way from Germany, so much amazing work. It's so inspiring. Keep it up. Be sure to check us out each and every Friday, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review before you leave.

Nic
See, everybody.

Laura
Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai