Sierra Leone’s Statistician General and Chief Census Officer, Andrew Bob Johnny, is attending the ESRI National Geospatial Symposium (NGS) in San Diego, California, following an invitation from the National Geospatial Symposium Committee.
The symposium, held alongside the globally renowned ESRI User Conference (UC), runs from 13–17 July 2026 and brings together leaders from governments, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations from around the world to shape the future of geospatial collaboration.
Held under the theme, “*Building Geospatial Ecosystems to Address Common Challenges*,” the symposium reflects a shared commitment to advancing integrated approaches that bridge organizational silos and strengthen collaboration among data producers and users.
During the week-long event, the Statistician General will participate in high-level panel discussions, technical sessions, and user presentations highlighting innovative ways in which geospatial technologies are transforming decision-making and public service delivery. The symposium will also showcase practical strategies and real-world examples of successful geospatial ecosystems that foster collaboration across institutions.
As part of the programme, Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny is expected to deliver a presentation on his work as Sierra Leone’s Statistician General and Chief Census Officer, with particular emphasis on the ongoing preparations for the 2026 Sierra Leone Population and Housing Census and the growing role of geospatial technologies in modernizing official statistics and census operations.
His participation provides Statistics Sierra Leone with a valuable opportunity to strengthen international partnerships, exchange knowledge on emerging geospatial innovations, and advance the institution’s statistical modernization agenda.
*About ESRI*
The Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) is an American software company founded in 1969 and headquartered in Redlands, California, USA. It is the world’s leading developer of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.
ESRI develops GIS solutions that enable organizations to:
* Collect geographic data.
* Store and manage spatial data.
* Analyse location-based information.
* Produce digital maps and visualizations.
* Support evidence-based planning and decision-making.
Statistics Sierra Leone is a subscriber to ESRI’s Statistical Modernization Programme and currently utilizes several ESRI products in the implementation of the 2026 Population and Housing Census and other national statistical operations. These include:
* ArcGIS Pro – Desktop GIS software for mapping and advanced spatial analysis.
* ArcGIS Online (AGOL) – A cloud-based GIS platform for creating, sharing, and managing maps and geospatial data.
* ArcGIS Enterprise – An enterprise GIS platform that enables organizations to securely manage, analyse, and share geospatial information across their operations.
The institution continues to leverage these technologies to enhance the quality, efficiency, and accuracy of data collection, mapping, and statistical production in Sierra Leone.
Credit – Stats SL Comms & PR Div
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 15th July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
