The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has advocated the need for effective collaboration between it, states and local governments to ensure that data production and dissemination mechanisms are comprehensive and reflective of the diverse programmes and activities at federal and subnational levels.
The Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the statistics agency, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, made the call in his Keynote Address on Tuesday during the opening session of the second bi-annual meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS), with the theme ”Data Accessibility And Dissemination At Sub-National Level” which kicked off in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Adeniran, who noted that increasing capacity of local expertise at the sub-national level remained crucial for sustaining the nation’s statistical system data initiatives, said accessibility of data was beyond its availability and extended to how easily stakeholders can comprehend and utilise the information provided.
He said: “As we work towards making data more accessible, we must prioritise initiatives that enhance data literacy at all levels of society. Collaboration is the cornerstone of effective data production and dissemination.
“At NBS, we are committed to providing training programmes and resources that will empower state statistical agencies, state bureaus and their staff, to the extent that our resources allow. This approach will foster a culture of data proficiency, laying the foundation for evidence-based decision-making.
“Data accessibility is not just about availability; it is about usability. We need to explore innovative approaches to make data not only accessible but also understandable to a wider audience. This involves investing in user-friendly platforms, visualisations and communication strategies that bridge the gap between data and its real-world impact.
“As we deliberate on these aspects, let us keep in mind that our goal is to empower every Nigerian with the knowledge and tools needed to actively participate in the development process. The NCCS plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal, and I am confident that our collective expertise, commitment, and discussions during this meeting will drive positive changes over the coming months and years”, the Statistician-General added.
In his opening remarks, Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, called on the NBS to collaborate effectively with the States Statistical Agencies (SSAs), especially Oyo State Bureau of Statistics, in order to ensure that reliable and comprehensive data remained available at sub-national level for evidence-based planning and decision making.
Citing the MICS report by the NBS as a veritable document that had helped the state government in policy formulation and implementation in key sectors of the state’s economy, especially the Health Sector, the governor commended the NBS for ensuring that timely data were being released for evidence-based planning in Nigeria.
He appealed to the NBS to collaborate effectively with the States Statistical Agencies (SSAs), especially Oyo State Bureau of Statistics, to ensure that reliable and comprehensive data is available at sub-national level for evidence-based planning and decision making.
Earlier in his welcome address, Oyo State Statistician-General, Mr. A.T Ajuwon, said that meeting was unique not only because of the opportunity to come together as data producers but further attested to the NBS’ genuine commitment to improving the data accessibility and dissemination at sub-national Level.
He pointed out that the bedrock of development in any nation or society remained the availability of timely, reliable and politics-free data, which forms the basis of evidence-based planning and decision-making as well as policy-formulation.
While commending the NBS for its collaboration with the Oyo State Bureau of Statistics, Ajuwon maintained that “this indeed is the kind of collaborative support we need in Nigeria to improve the quality of lives of our people through data production and management.”
Specifically, he disclosed that an Atlas of Social Indicators of the Situation of Women and Children in Oyo State was published among others by the state’s Bureau of Statistics with the aid of Multiply Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) reports.
To further strengthen the NBS’ relationship with the OSBS, he solicited more collaboration with the federal statistics agency in the area of computation of Gross Domestic Production (GDP) for the state.
