The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has unveiled new data-driven governance strategies as part of development planning efforts for governments at all levels.
Katsina State is hosting the first national conference of the year organised by the Bureau, which has brought together top government officials from federal and state levels, data experts, and representatives of civil society organisations to deliberate on the strategic use of data in governance and development planning.
The two-day conference is focused on enhancing data-driven governance, improving state-level GDP computation, and introducing innovative data collection frameworks.
Deputy Governor Faruq Lawal Jobe, who represented Governor Dikko Umar Radda, declared the conference open.
Jobe emphasised the importance of quality data in formulating effective government policies.
He said: “We are confident that only through reliable data can we develop policies that truly benefit our citizens,” he said, highlighting achievements of the Radda administration including the establishment of agricultural mechanization centers and the distribution of subsidized fertilizers to farmers.
“The state government is working closely with farmers to transform the agricultural sector and promote environmental sustainability, with the goal of achieving food security, reducing poverty, and creating jobs.
“One of the key highlights of the conference was the NBS’s efforts to compute state-level Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”
The Statistician-General of the Federation, Professor Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, also stressed that this initiative is vital for investors and policy makers.
He said: “Investors need to understand the economic strength of each state to make informed decisions.”
Katsina Chief Statistician, Professor Saifullah Sani, acknowledged the state government’s pivotal support to the statistics sector, particularly its funding of the General Household Survey — marking the first time such a survey has been state-sponsored in Nigeria.
He further expressed gratitude to the NBS for its collaboration and support in strengthening the state’s statistical systems and GDP analysis.
The Nation