UNIZIK SHINING GLOBALLY
Field-to-Map Hackathon: UNIZIK hosts Training on the Next Generation of Geospatial Journalists
On 26-27 October 2026, the Department of Geography and Meteorology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, hosted the Field-to-Map Hackathon at the Chike Okoli Entrepreneurship Centre.
The event was organised by Dr Chidimma Chisom Maduka, one of the winners of the 2026 Pulitzer Center Impact Seed Fund, with support from the Pulitzer Center.
The hackathon aimed to reach 100 participants across institutions bordering the Oban forest reserve in Cross River State, with participants joining the event virtually and physically.
Eight teams competed: six from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, alongside representation from the University of Uyo (Akwa Ibom State) and the University of Calabar (Cross River State). Participants also joined from the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, bringing together students and staff from different institutions and states.
The hackathon asked a simple question: how can satellite data and GIS help reveal what is happening to our environment, and how can that evidence become a responsible story? Teams worked through four specific missions:
• Detect: Analysing a real-time series of tree cover loss against a reference baseline.
• Map Access Routes: Identifying active and inactive access routes into logging sites.
• Prepare a Data-Backed Story: Structuring a compelling, evidence-based narrative based on the geospatial findings.
• Policy Brief: Writing a strategic policy brief to stakeholders on how best to manage and combat the identified issues.
Teams completed all of these Field-to-Map missions directly on the GeoOps platform.
A highlight of the event was the keynote on "Truth, Evidence and Responsibility in Data-Driven Journalism," delivered by Dr Henry Duru on behalf of the Head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. It reminded participants that a good map is only as trustworthy as the story told with it.
Winners
• 1st place: Team Datum Line
• 2nd place: Team Iroko Unit
• 3rd place: Team Understory
The organiser , Dr Chidimma Chisom Maduka in a remark congratulated all three teams, and every participant for their effort over the two days.
“The hackathon is part of our wider aim to build a geospatial-led environmental journalism training platform that brings geographers and journalists together.
“We thank the Pulitzer Center for its support, and the Department of Geography and Meteorology and Nnamdi Azikiwe University for hosting us. Our thanks also go to the Head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies and Dr Henry Duru, to the participating institutions (the University of Uyo, the University of Calabar, and Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe), and to the facilitators, judges, and every participant, onsite and online, who made the hackathon a success.”
“We extend our special appreciation to investigative journalist Uchenna Igwe, whose work on illegal logging in the Oban forest reserve supported this event. We also sincerely thank Dr Peter Nzoiwu, who spoke to the participants on the vital importance of forest geo-intelligence in protecting forest reserves.” she stated.
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