Statistician-General: Nigeria needs to start seeing data as national asset
Nigeria must stop seeing data as mere numbers and start treating it as a national asset that generates value, the Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, has said. He spoke at the first bi-annual meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS) […]
Nigeria's Statistician-General, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, has urged the nation to recognize data as a vital national asset rather than merely a collection of numbers. Speaking at the inaugural bi-annual National Consultative Committee on Statistics meeting in Kano, Adeniran emphasized that the country's future development hinges on constructing a contemporary statistical system that converts information into dependable evidence for decision-making.
"The rewards from data won't materialize spontaneously; they emerge from the decisions we make, the frameworks we establish, the standards we embrace, the alliances we forge, and the degree to which evidence is integrated into our choices," he stated.
Adeniran highlighted that while censuses and surveys remain crucial, the true potential lies in harnessing administrative records from various sectors such as education, healthcare, taxation, immigration, judiciary, and commerce. He stressed that these records, when meticulously managed and standardized, can significantly bolster the overall national evidence base.
"Every day, institutions generate data as part of their routine activities. Properly managed, this administrative data can augment the national evidence foundation," he added.
The Statistician-General noted that Nigeria has joined international initiatives like the Power of Data High Impact Initiative and the Inclusive Data Charter. Furthermore, the nation is set to host the 20th Meeting of Directors General of Statistics Offices in Africa later in the year, an achievement Adeniran sees as a testament to Nigeria's rising stature in statistical leadership.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, in remarks delivered on his behalf, underscored the critical role of reliable statistics for a state with a vast populace, burgeoning urban areas, and multifaceted social requirements. He stressed that effective governance should be anchored on facts and trustworthy information, rather than conjecture.
The two-day conference, themed "Unlocking Data Dividends for National Development: Advancing Administrative Statistics and Data-Driven Governance," convened statisticians, policymakers, and development collaborators to explore how Nigeria can leverage data for improved planning, accountability, and overall national progress.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
