AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

In ICGN, the acquisition and application of geographical knowledge is mission-oriented. At the first instance, we seek new valid contextual knowledge about the environment and human impacts on it. Secondly, we assume responsibility to get involved in trying to solve problems associated with human impact on the environment. Thirdly, while being conscious of the global scenario, we focus on the problems as manifested in Nigeria.

In ICGN, we recognize that the remedies to the many environmental problems have been well understood. For instance, the remedies to the problems of deforestation, desertification, flooding, soil erosion, pollution, overpopulation, urban poverty and rural decay are well known. What is not so well known is how to make our engineers who know how to control industrial pollution but do not as of now know how to persuade factories to install necessary equipments that will detoxify effluents discharged into our streams and rivers in urban areas. Our soil scientists and foresters know how to control land degradation but not how to persuade village farmers to desist from say, over cropping, bush burning and indiscriminate felling of trees. Our demographers know how to check high fertility but not how to persuade virile couples to adopt family planning. Architects know to design aesthetic and comfortable urban housing but do not know how to make them affordable urban poor.

The challenge for us in ICGN is to make the remedies to our environmental problems socially, economically and politically acceptable to Nigerians. We consider responsible environmental stewardship as an aesthetic and moral priority as well as an economic necessity. In the light of this, in ICGN we open our doors wide for easy entry for the training and equipment of nominal and aspiring geographers. The rationale is to catch aspiring members young, or at mid stream or at the break-points in their growth and therefore fashion them through education, training and development, instilling on them the mission spirit for environmental action and change.

Hence for the novices, the programme of environmental literacy embodies awareness and appreciation of natural and built environment, the knowledge of natural systems and ecological issues and concepts, understanding of environmental issues and the ability to use critical thinking and problem solving skills on environmental and developmental issues. For the graduate members the challenges include the application of geographical tools and principles in solving, managing or ameliorating emerging issues of development in the environment.

The ends expected are positive value re-orientation, attitudinal change, civic action, life applications, capacity building, skill formation, knowledge acquisition, poverty reduction and wealth creation. The means to these ends are lectures, workshops, seminars, thematic expositions, conferences, research projects and publications. These among others are our specific objectives:

The institute is mandated to regulate all aspects of geography related fields of studies stated above and with the following approved aims and objectives by Federal Ministry of Education, office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as contain in the stamped Memorandum and Articles of Association sealed by Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja .
OBJECTIVES

  1. To print and publish journals, books, magazines and such other materials of geographical interest or any matter whatsoever.
  2. To foster the knowledge and advancement in Geography profession in all the six geographical regions of Nigeria through production, collation, supply of related materials, information for learning of Geography.
  3. To organize, arrange, hold, promote and sponsor lectures, seminars, symposia, workshops and others for the exchange and dissemination of information in the field of Geography only.
  4. To provide training services and to engage in research and development work and turn the results thereof to reasonable or workable data.
  5. To hold or conduct a test in the field of Geography and other related subjects for the purpose of awarding certificates of merit as may be desired.
  6. To recognize and admit as member’s persons who has practical experience in the field geography or who should have passed a given test.
  7. To enhance the learning or development of standard in geography and geographical matters to meet both national (Nigeria) and international standards.
  8. To ensure a professional status necessary to promote and encourage the study and development of the art and science of geography in public, industries, marine and aviation industries.
  9. To regulate and discipline professional misconduct of members of the institute.
  10. To practice as geographers and submit memoranda and forward advisory opinions to the government and the public sector on any geographical matters.
  11. To establish and maintain a register for all fellows, Associates, Technicians and registered members.
  12. To provide opportunities for social and professional relationship between members of the institute and or other professional organization for purpose of advancement of mutual benefits.
  13. To exchange, increase, disseminate and promote knowledge, education and ideas in respect of all questions relating thereto.
  14. To bring all geographers into one single umbrella, such as those in urban and regional planning, oceanography, quantitative techniques, economics geography, elementary geography, environmental planning or studies and cartography etc to be know and called the GEOGRAPHERS.
  15. To upgrade graduates of climatology and oceanography or cartography on weather condition from time to time and to avoid sea and air mist sharp.
  16. To make it permit to all students and graduates of geography to write the professional testof the institute in order to acquire the status of Certified Geographer (CG).
  17. To regulate all activities of geographers in the country.
  18. To establish a college to be called Nigerian College of Geography which will constitute the training arm of the institute, with the sole aim being to train students and prepare them for the qualifying examination of the institute as Certified Geographers.
  19. To have offices in all the thirty six (36) States of the Federation with National Headquarters in Kaduna or some other State as could be determined by the Board from time to time; and to be headed by the Director General/Executive officer of the INSTITUTE who will be in charge of the administrative, Accounting system and keeping of register of student, Professional Graduates, Associates and Fellows of the INSTITUTE.
  20. To amalgamate with any other company (INSTITUTE) having objects altogether or in part similar to those of the company (INSTITUTE). To sell, improve, manage, develop, exchange, lease, mortgage enfranchise, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with, all or any part of the property and rights of the company (INSTITUTE).
  21. To borrow or raise money in such manner as the company (INSTITUTE) shall see fit, and  in particular by the issue of debentures, or debenture stock, perpetual or otherwise, and to secure the payment of any money borrowed, raise or owing, by mortgage, charge or lien upon all or any of the property or assets of the company (INSTITUTE) both present and future including its uncalled capital and also by a similar mortgage, charge or lien to secure and guarantee the performance by the company (INSTITUTE) or any other person or company (INSTITUTE) as the case may be.
  22. To do ALL such other things as may be deemed incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them. The objects set forth in any such sub-clause of these clauses shall not be restrictively constructed but the widest interpretation shall be given thereto and shall not except when the context expressly so requires, be in any way limited to or inference from any other objects set forth in sub-clause or from the terms of any other sub-clause of the object or objects therein specified or the power thereby conferred shall be deemed subsidiary or ancillary to the object or powers mentioned in any other sub-clause, but the company (INSTITUTE) shall have full power to exercise all or any of the powers and to achieve or to endeavour  to achieve all or any of the objects conferred by and provide in any one or more of the said sub-clauses. The income and property of the company shall be applied solely towards the promotion of its objects, and that no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly to the members of the company (INSTITUTE) except as permitted by or under this decree.
    Each member undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company (INSTITUTE) in the event of its being wind up while he is a member or within one year after he ceases to be a member, for payment of debts and liabilities of the company (INSTITUTE) and of the costs of winding up, such amount as may be required not exceeding a specified amount and the total of which shall not be less than ten thousand naira. (N10,000.00)