Okeoghene Akubuike
The Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, says the Federal Government is committed to leveraging innovations in data and statistics to promote justice, peace, inclusiveness, and sustainable development.
Adeniran made the remarks at the 2025 African Statistics Day celebration in Abuja on Tuesday, themed “Leveraging Innovations in Data and Statistics to Promote a Just, Peaceful, Inclusive and Prosperous Society for Africans.”
He highlighted that data was central to governance, economic planning, and social development, describing statistics as the “silent architects of development.”
Adeniran noted that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had adopted digital tools such as satellite imagery, geospatial technology, machine learning, and mobile data collection to produce credible and timely statistics.
“Innovations include Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI), real-time dashboards, and improved open data portals to reach remote communities and produce disaggregated data on gender, age, disability, ethnicity, and geography.
“Data is not neutral. It must expose inequalities, inform strategies for justice, foster peace, and ensure inclusion,” Adeniran said.
He urged African nations to invest in statistical infrastructure, human capacity, and public data literacy, adding that NBS would inaugurate a national Data Power Roadmap in December.
Guest speaker Prof. Joseph Nnanna, Chief Economist at the Development Bank of Nigeria, stressed that countries embracing data innovation could design more effective policies, deliver public services efficiently, and ensure accountability.
He cited examples from Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, and Ghana to demonstrate how reliable data informed targeted policies, guided resource allocation, and improved daily lives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that African Statistics Day, celebrated annually on Nov. 18, raises awareness of statistics’ role in shaping socio-economic development across the continent. (NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
