Accurate Data Necessary for Proper Decision-Making, Says AFRI-CIRD Boss
Mohammed Bello, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the African Center for Innovative Research and Development (AFRI-CIRD) has described a robust, harmonized and accurate data as a critical tool to the government and other institutions for making proper decisions.
Mr. Bello disclosed this during an event to mark the inauguration of the Kano State Consultative Committee on Statistics (KSCCS) in the capital city of the State.
He stated that accurate and well-polished data will help inform the government on certain development areas where the need for interventions is very critical in order to make urgent interventions.
Highlighting the roles and mandates of the Committee, Mr. Bello stated that, the members of the panel will work closely in collaboration with stakeholders across all the government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and development partners in order to bridge the gap in data coordination within the state.
Furthermore, Mr. Bello highlighted issues such as having ‘conflicting figures on the same subject matter’ by different organizations as one of the statistical gaps that the committee will seek to correct in order to ensure harmonized data coordination.
“For example, you may have different figures with regards to the total number of out of school children in Kano from either the UNICEF or the state government.” Mr. Bello added.
According to him, the Committee shall embark on conducting capacity-building training for all state and non-state actors involved in statistics aimed at enhancing their productivity towards harvesting and coordinating a-driven data.
The Committee which was unveiled by the State Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, has the Statistician General of Kano State, Dr. Aliyu Isa Aliyu as its Chairman.
Other members are; Dr Yusuf Yau Gambo, Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, Dr. YZ Ya’u, Dr Umar Alhassan and Mohammed Bello, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the African Center for Innovative Research and Development AFRI-CIRD) among others.
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Alhaji Musa charged the newly inaugurated members of the Committee to diligently discharge their mandates, emphasizing that their efforts would directly contribute to the state’s growth and progress.
He said: “You are entrusted with a pivotal responsibility. Through your work, we can ensure that the policies and programs of our state are grounded in robust, accurate data, which is essential for informed decision-making,”
In his keynote address, the Statistician General of Kano State, Dr. Aliyu Isa Aliyu, enjoined the participants of the event to use this opportunity to improve their capacity in the aspect of data generation, collection, harmonization and dissemination among others.
Dr. Aliyu further highlighted the achievements of the Kano State Bureau of Statistics over the past year which he attributed the success to the unwavering support of the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabiru Yusuf and other development partners.
Some of the milestones achieved under his one-year leadership included: the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various institutions, i.e. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, aimed at enhancing the accuracy of statistical data across the state.
“Our efforts in the past year have been focused on improving the capacity and infrastructure of the Bureau,” the Statistician General noted. He went on to detail several initiatives, including capacity-building training for staff, the procurement of advanced computer systems, and the enhancement of electricity supply at the Bureau’s offices aimed at enhancing their productivity and effective performances.
Additionally, the Bureau has rejigged its website to ensure real-time access to data, further promoting transparency and accessibility.
Emergency Digest reports that the inauguration of the Kano State Consultative Committee on Statistics is expected to pave the way for more data-driven initiatives that will bolster the state’s development efforts in the years to come.
The colourful event with the theme: “Bridging Data Gap and Building Partnership and Enhancing Statistical Capacity for Informed Decision-Making in Kano State” marked a significant step in enhancing data-driven governance in the state.
