The Delta Ministry of Economic Planning, in collaboration with Universal Investment and Development Company (UIDC) Limited, organised training on Monday for selected state civil servants on data analysis and visualisation.

The workshop, which took place in Asaba, was designed to equip participants with modern digital skills required to process and interpret data for informed governance.

In a speech to declare the training open, the state commissioner for economic planning, Sonny Ekedayen, emphasised the critical role of data in modern governance.

Mr Ekedayen said, “With the right data tools, decisions can be made faster and more accurately, even by non-technical users.”

The commissioner, represented by the state director of statistics, Nkechi Maduemezia, described data as “the new oil” that drives strategic development.

He spoke on the importance of embracing data technology “to make civil servants more agile and capable of supporting decision-makers through clear, visualised insights.”

In a remark, the head of corporate strategy and planning at UIDC, Timothy Igbinosa, emphasised the urgency for public servants to embrace digital transformation.

Represented by an official from UIDC, Godwin Mukoro said, ”The gap we discovered between current practices and modern data analysis methods inspired this workshop. We must not be left behind.”

Mr Igbinosa identified three categories of civil servants in the digital era: “those with little or no capacity for digital tools, those who know the tools but fail to apply them, and the very few who effectively utilise them.”

He also said the workshop was designed to bridge the gap between current practices and modern data analysis methods.

Also, a capital market consultant, Gbe Lewis, affirmed UIDC’s commitment to supporting the state through training and capacity development initiatives.

He commended the ministry for its strategic role in driving service delivery across the state and expressed confidence that the training would significantly enhance the participants’ analytical skills.

Also, a resource person at the workshop, Felix Ofobruku, spoke on “Enhancing Data Management in the Public Service—Exploring Strategic Roles of the Administrative Officers.”

Mr Ofobruku emphasised the role of the administrative officer’s strategic function in data governance and decision-making.

The workshop featured practical sessions on data handling, analysis, and visualisation tools, enabling participants to better support government planning and policy formulation through evidence-based decision-making.

The training is part of the state government’s commitment to smarter and more efficient data-driven planning, in line with the “MORE Agenda.”

(NAN)