By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State says his administration is determined to provide funding to ensure that reliable, acceptable and right statistics were provided in good quality and timely.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos at the opening session of the 1st International Conference of the Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) themed ‘Positioning National Statistical System for Data Revolution and Inclusive Development,’ the Governor said the importance of accurate data gathering to national development can never be pushed aside, urging the national body of all statisticians in the country to improve the process of data gathering and collation for the use of government institutions and research purposes.
The Governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, stated that data collation and analysis were key to good planning in other to achieve all inclusive governance, adding that the present administration places a high premium on statistics for even distribution of basic social amenities across the state for the benefit of the citizenry.
While acknowledging the enormous task ahead of NSA and its professional members, the Governor tasked participants at the conference to use the platform to strategize the proper ways to carry out data collation, analysis and dissemination.
He promised that the state government was determined to provide funding to ensure that reliable, acceptable and right statistics were provided in good quality and timely.
He also expressed optimism that the outcome of the conference would help the state to redefine strategies for improving statistical data production, usage and dissemination.
In his address, the President of Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), Professor Sidney Onyeagu said statistics help to provide sound information to enhance policy formulation and strategic planning in the public and private sector of the economy.
He noted that the conference will generate novel ideas that will help position national statistical system to address the challenges arising from data revolution and the need to provide data support policy makers towards achieving inclusive development.
Professor Onyeagu also acknowledged the tremendous improvement in social infrastructure and development in Lagos State since the inception of the present administration, adding that the Association, since its 41 years existence, had never received the recognition accorded it by the Lagos State Government from any other state in the country.
Adedapo Adesanya