The federal government has commenced the training of enumerators for the ward-level data capture exercise in Kogi State.

Speaking at the event in Lokoja on Friday, the Statistician-General of the Kogi Bureau of Statistics, Irewole Ayo-Alani, charged participants to ensure the collection of accurate, timely and credible data to support evidence-based planning and national development.

Ms Ayo-Alani described the commencement of the nationwide ward development enumeration exercise as another significant milestone in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s data system for planning and development.

She said reliable statistics remain the foundation of effective planning, evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development.

She commended the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), under the leadership of the Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, and other stakeholders for supporting the exercise.

Ms Ayo-Alani appealed to local government chairmen to mobilise councillors, ward leaders, traditional rulers and community stakeholders to cooperate fully with the enumerators throughout the exercise.

She also appealed to members of the public to provide accurate and truthful information, assuring them that all data collected would be treated with strict confidentiality and used solely for statistical and developmental purposes.

Ms Ayo-Alani further charged enumerators to conduct themselves with professionalism, integrity, respect and dedication, while ensuring that the information collected truly reflected the realities in their respective wards.

She expressed confidence that with the cooperation of all stakeholders, Kogi would distinguish itself among participating states by delivering quality data.

The coordinator of the ward-level data capture exercise, Christiana Attah, also described the exercise as a critical national assignment.

She said the information to be collected would serve as the foundation for planning, policy formulation and monitoring of government programmes at the federal, state and local government levels.

Ms Attah also said that the data would support development partners in designing interventions capable of improving the lives of millions of Nigerians.

According to her, enumerators must uphold professionalism, discipline and integrity throughout the exercise, stressing that the National Bureau of Statistics has zero tolerance for data falsification.

Ms Attah urged participants to ask questions exactly as contained in the questionnaire, adhere strictly to survey procedures and transmit completed data daily through the KoboCollect application.

“The work you are about to undertake is not merely about filling forms. You are contributing to nation-building through the provision of credible statistics for national development,” she said.

She expressed confidence that Kogi would deliver 100 per cent complete and quality data at the end of the exercise.

Aledare Emmanuel, NBS state officer, urged the enumerators to apply the knowledge acquired during the training with diligence and professionalism and formally declared the training open.

Earlier, the assistant chief statistician of the NBS, Oluwatosin Ilufoye, said the main objective of the exercise was to identify the needs, available resources and economic opportunities in every ward across the country.

Ms Ilufoye explained that the information generated would enable governments to make informed, evidence-based decisions, prioritise development projects, allocate resources fairly, create jobs, reduce poverty and implement programmes that respond to the specific needs of communities.

She said the exercise would employ standardised questionnaires, trained enumerators, global positioning system (GPS) technology, and the active participation of community leaders and ward stakeholders to ensure accuracy, transparency, and credibility.

She urged community members and local stakeholders to provide honest information and actively support the exercise to ensure the data accurately reflected the development priorities of their communities.

Speaking on behalf of the Kogi president of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Alhaji Sanusi, the deputy state president of the union, Bala Ibrahim, reaffirmed NULGE’s commitment to supporting the exercise.

Mr Ibrahim assured the organisers that the union would provide every necessary assistance to ensure the successful conduct of the exercise.

The exercise is expected to generate baseline data for national planning, monitoring of government programmes and evidence-based decision-making across Nigeria.

(NAN)