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CONTRIBUTION OF THE REGIONAL CENTRE FOR TRAINING IN AERIAL SURVEYS 
(RECTAS) TO MAPPING ASPECTS OF MAN-POWER DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA 
(1972 — 1986). 
By: 
O. O. Ayeni 
Director, Rectas 
lle=Ife, Nigeria. 
ABSTRACT 
A brief account of the historical background and the objectives of RECTAS is given. The 
training programmes currently offered and their relevance to Africa's manpower needs in 
mapping are presented. The role of Consultancy and staff training in manpower development and 
the achievements of RECTAS are highlighted. The response of RECTAS to Africa's future needs 
in manpower development is also discussed. 
INTRODUCTION: 
The idea of establishing the Regional Centre for Training in Aerial Surveys (RECTAS) was 
first mu ted at the first United Nations Cartographic Conference for Africa held in Nairobi, Kenya 
in June 1963. At the Nairobi conference a resolution on the need for inaugurating Cartographic 
Centres like RECTAS was passed and this was subsequently adopted as Resolution 164 at the 
eighth session of E. C. A. Conference of Ministers. The two conferences at subsewuent meetings 
reviewed the adverse effects which the poor state of surveying and mapping had on the execution 
of development programmes in Africa and also the inability of various African countries to apply 
aerial survey techniques for the exploration, exploitation and management of their natural re- 
sources. Consequently after necessary investigations and consultations, RECTAS was formally 
established as a bilingual training centre under the auspices of the United Nations Economic 
Commission for Africa (UNECA) on 21st October 1972 at lle-Ife, with four governments — 
Benin, Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria as pioneering rnember states. Five other countries, Burkina 
Faso, Mali, Cameroun, Mali and Niger have joined the Centre, thus bringing the membership to 
nine countries. ; 
The Centre is administered by a Governing Council which is advised by a Technical Advisory 
Committee on technical matters relating to the preparation and implementation of the work 
programme of the Centre. An Academic Board has responsibility for academic matters. 
The objectives of the Centre may be enumerated as follows: 
(i) The provision of theoretical and practical training in the field of aerial surveys including in 
particular, photogrammetry, photointerpretation, remote sensing and airborne geophysical 
surveys, with a view to meeting the man-power requirements of African countries. 
(ii) The conduct of seminars, conferences and workshops with a view to providing an opportu ni- 
ty for exchange of information and experiences in the field of aerial surveys. 
(iii) The prosecution of research and studies in the field of aerial surveys. 
(iv) The provision of advisory and consultancy services to the governments (and their agencies) 
of the member states of UNECA. 
From the foregoing historical background, many questions naturally come to one's mind 
as to whether RECTAS has fulfilled or is fulfilling the aims and objectives for which it was 
founded. 
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