Dr. James is a Spatial Scientist. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Surveying Engineering and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Surveying and Geoinformatics, both from the University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos, Nigeria. He served briefly as an Assistant Lecturer in the same university. Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Missouri, Kansas City, (UMKC) Missouri, USA, from where he obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Geosciences and Economics, with emphasis on the integration of geospatial techniques (Remote Sensing and GIS) and economics for addressing environmental challenges. In addition, he obtained an advanced diploma in Geographic Information Science from the same University. While at UMKC, he held research and graduate teaching appointments. In 2007, he was a Doctoral Research Fellow in sustainability science at the Centre for International Development, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA.
Dr. James is currently the Director, Department of Strategic Space Application, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA). He
supervises the activities of the following Centers of excellence of NASRDA: National Center for Remote Sensing, Jos; Center for Geodesy and Geodynamics, Toro; African Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education in English Language, Ife; as well as space applications laboratories in Ife, Uyo, Kashere, and Langtang. Over the years, he has been involved in the following projects at NASRDA: Coordination of space application projects in the thematic areas of hazards, disaster management, environmental management, urban and regional studies, and climate change. In addition, he coordinated the activities of the regional support office of the United Nations Platform for Space Based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) in Nigeria; an office that is responsible for supporting the West and Central African countries with space-based solutions to disaster management.
Dr. James is an Associate Professor and head of Department of Geoinformatics and GIS Applications at the Institute of Space Science and Engineering, an Affiliate of the African University of Science and Technology. Dr. James is a Registered Surveyor and the former Vice President of Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (GEOSON) and a Fellow of GEOSON. He is also a member of several other professional bodies such as Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), African Association for Remote Sensing of the Environment (AARSE), American Association of Geographers (AAG), American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) and American Geophysical Union (AUG).
