I am honored and humbled to introduce myself as one of the nominees for the 2025 Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) Voting Membership.

My name is Adamu Muhammad Adamu, a geographer, mapping advocate, and dedicated leader from Gombe State, Nigeria. I currently serve as the President of the National Association of Geography Students (NAGS) at Gombe State University, where I also lead our active YouthMappers chapter—a platform that has significantly shaped my journey into open mapping, humanitarian work, and global collaboration.

• What HOT Means to Me

HOT represents more than an organization—it is a movement that embodies inclusion, empowerment, and action.

To me, HOT stands at the intersection of technology and humanity, where data becomes a tool to respond to crises, build resilience, and bring visibility to marginalized communities. It is through HOT that young people like myself have found a purpose in contributing to real-world solutions, bridging the gap between global challenges and local realities.

• My Journey into Mapping and HOT

My engagement with HOT began in 2020 through YouthMappers. What started as curiosity evolved into a passion and a responsibility to serve. I joined mapping campaigns, led training sessions, and participated in field data collection. In time, I became a mentor and mobilizer, encouraging others to see maps not just as tools, but as voices for the voiceless.

In 2024, I was proudly selected as a Leadership Fellow to represent my country in Bangkok, Thailand, and now selected as a Volunteer Regional Ambassador for YouthMappers in Nigeria, a role through which I support chapters across the country, encourage inter-campus collaboration, and promote open mapping as a vehicle for humanitarian and sustainable development.

• Selected Projects and Community Impact

1. Kwakwambe Village Mapathon – Adamawa State.

I led a community mapping project in Kwakwambe Village along the Numan River in Adamawa State. This rural area had been largely unmapped, and through this initiative, we documented key infrastructure, roads, schools, and risk-prone areas.

The goal was to use geospatial data to highlight the community’s challenges and advocate for government and NGO intervention.

1. Mapping for Heat and Health – Akure and Gombe

As part of a national YouthMappers initiative, I represented my chapter in Akure, Ondo State, where we mapped urban heat exposure and its effects on public health. Inspired by this experience, I returned to Gombe and replicated the project, leading a student team to collect and contribute data for heat vulnerability and public health preparedness in our region.

1. Leadership, Training & Mentorship

Through my leadership role at Gombe State University, I’ve organized mapathons, GIS workshops, and peer mentorship programs, introducing over 50 students to open mapping and humanitarian data work. Many of these students have gone on to become contributors to HOT, OSM, and YouthMappers.

• Why I Want to Serve as a HOT Voting Member

I believe this is an opportunity to elevate the voices of underrepresented communities—especially young people, students, and those in the Global South. My intention is to serve as a bridge between local mapping communities and global platforms like HOT. I want to contribute to decisions that create more opportunities, tools, and resources for those working at the grassroots level to make a difference through maps.

• My Responsibilities and Vision as a Voting Member

1. As a voting member, I believe it is my duty to:

2. Advocate for inclusive and community-centered mapping practices

3. Contribute to HOT’s governance with integrity and transparency

4. Support the development of sustainable local mapping ecosystems

5. Collaborate across borders to advance shared humanitarian goals

• I plan to participate actively in HOT working groups, especially those focused on:

1. Youth Engagement and Leadership Development

2. Climate Resilience and Disaster Response

3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Open Mapping

• HOT’s Greatest Challenge and My Perspective

One of HOT’s major challenges today is ensuring equitable participation and long-term sustainability of local mapping efforts, particularly in communities facing systemic barriers to access and recognition. I believe this can be addressed by:

1. Expanding access to funding and mentorship for local initiatives

2. Building stronger partnerships between HOT and academic institutions

3. Creating inclusive feedback mechanisms where mappers can influence global strategies

4. Encouraging intergenerational collaboration across the mapping community

• Final Thoughts

This nomination is not just a personal honor—it is a responsibility to represent my peers, my community, and the many emerging mappers who are committed to using data for good. I am deeply inspired by HOT’s vision, and I am ready to contribute thoughtfully, respectfully, and actively to its continued success.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about me. I look forward to connecting with many of you, learning from your experiences, and growing together as part of this incredible community.

With sincere gratitude,

Adamu Muhammad Adamu President – (NAGS) Gombe State University Volunteer Regional Ambassador, YouthMappers – Nigeria OSM: adamutafidah