Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged statisticians to strengthen Nigeria’s data systems and promote evidence-based policy-making to accelerate economic transformation and improve public service delivery.

Mr Shettima made the call at the third International Conference and Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON) on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Shettima was represented by Fred Eklaga, the technical assistant in the Office of the Vice-President.

The conference, with the theme, “From Legacy to Leadership: 50 Years of Promoting Statistical Development in Nigeria,” brought together statisticians, researchers, policy-makers and other stakeholders.

Mr Shettima said credible statistics were essential for effective governance, economic planning, public accountability and investment decisions, stressing that policies must be guided by evidence and measurable outcomes.

He said the success of the federal government’s economic reforms depended on reliable data to assess their effects on poverty, employment, education, healthcare and infrastructure.

“Without credible statistics, government risks confusing expenditure with achievement, activity with productivity, and political declarations with measurable progress,” he said.

The vice-president identified outdated population data, fragmented information systems, inadequate measurement of informal economic activities and limited agricultural statistics as major challenges requiring urgent attention.

He noted that Nigeria’s last national population census was conducted in 2006, leaving policy-makers reliant on estimates and projections for planning and resource allocation.

Mr Shettima called for a professionally conducted census, improved coordination among government institutions and more timely publication of reliable statistics.

He also stressed the need for accurate agricultural data on crop yields, cultivated land, livestock, storage, post-harvest losses and market prices to strengthen food security.

On technology, he said big data and artificial intelligence (AI) could improve forecasting, planning and service delivery when supported by reliable information.

He explained that integrating food prices, weather forecasts, satellite imagery and agricultural output data could help authorities anticipate shortages and respond before they escalated.

For businesses, he said data analytics could improve demand forecasting, detect fraud, optimise inventories and anticipate supply chain disruptions.

“The executive lesson is clear: data must move from the back office to the boardroom.

“Organisations should also integrate statistical insights into budgeting, investment and performance assessment,” Mr Shettima said.

He cautioned that AI could not produce reliable conclusions from poor-quality data, emphasising the need to protect privacy, cybersecurity and confidentiality.

Mr Shettima said the federal government would work towards strengthening the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), improving state statistical agencies and digitising administrative records.

He urged CISON to strengthen professional standards, improve data quality, promote statistical literacy and expand training in modern statistical methods, AI-assisted analysis and data ethics.

The vice-president also called for stronger collaboration among government, academia and industry, alongside efforts to mentor young statisticians and expand opportunities for women.

“Behind every figure is a household seeking dignity. Behind every employment statistic is a person searching for opportunity, thus, the need to translate statistics into improved human welfare,” he said.

He subsequently declared the conference open, expressing the hope that CISON’s next 50 years would strengthen evidence-based governance and national development.

Earlier, Bashir Imono, president of the Ghana Statistical Association, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to cooperating with CISON, professional development and statistical excellence across Africa.

The World Bank lead economist, Liliana Souso, also called for a more integrated, timely and responsive statistical system in Nigeria, noting that reliable data could improve policies and programmes.

Similarly, the head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Enitan, said reliable data were essential for public-sector planning and resource allocation.

The head of service was represented by Adinu Shukuneri, the director of planning and structural statistics.

He said improved workforce data could help the civil service identify skills gaps, guide training, strengthen workforce planning and promote transparency in public resource management.

He urged CISON to sustain professional development, support young statisticians and strengthen collaboration with the civil service to improve public administration.

 (NAN)