Nigeria's Statistician-General Advocates for Data as Asset

At the first bi-annual meeting of the National Consultative Committee on Statistics (NCCS) in Kano, Nigeria's Statistician-General, Adeniran, stressed the necessity for the country to regard data as a national asset. He warned that Nigeria's future development hinges on establishing a modern statistical system that effectively transforms information into reliable evidence for governance.

Adeniran stated that the benefits of data will not arise automatically but will depend on the choices made, systems built, standards adopted, partnerships formed, and the integration of evidence into decision-making. He noted the importance of managing and standardizing administrative records from various sectors, including schools, hospitals, and businesses, to enhance the national evidence base.

Nigeria's participation in global initiatives like the Power of Data High Impact Initiative and the Inclusive Data Charter was also highlighted, alongside the upcoming hosting of the 20th Meeting of Directors General of Statistics Offices in Africa. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, represented by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, emphasized the critical role of reliable statistics for effective governance.