By Frances Nwabufoe :
The Anambra State Bureau of Statistics has joined statistical bodies around the African continent to celebrate the 2022 African Statistics Day designated for Nov. 18 every year to raise public awareness on the important role that statistics play in all aspects of social and economic lives.
The theme for this year is “Strengthening data systems by modernizing the production and use of agricultural statistics: informing policies with a view to improving resilience in agriculture, nutrition, and food security in Africa”.
The African Statistics Day (ASD) was adopted in May 1990 at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) conference of African Ministers responsible for Planning and Economic Development.
The Managing Director/State Statistician General, Anambra State Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Obiora Obiabunmo, while addressing members of the Nigerian Statistical Association Anambra State Chapter, said the State Bureau is making efforts to ensure a closer working relationship between Departments and Agencies in the Agriculture sector and the Bureau of Statistics.
This is to ensure proper collection, analysis and dissemination of agricultural statistics to aid policy formulation and planning in line with today’s theme.
Further recognizing the importance of statistics in policy making for development, Obiabunmo said that statistics are vital tools for economic and social development and are in line with the state government’s efforts at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
”For development to succeed, we need reliable data on every sector of the economy. Statistics are central considerations in justifying almost every aspect of the state’s budget and programmes”, he added.
He further emphasized on the need for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to routinely store administrative data and share on a timely basis with the State Bureau of Statistics to aid the updating of the State Statistical Database.
Members of the Nigerian Statistical Association Anambra State Chapter marked the African Statistical Day with road show around the state capital, visiting some important offices on their way to create awareness on data generation and collection.
Notable offices visited were Anambra State Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, Anambra State Ministry of Lands, Anambra State Ministry of Economic Planning and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
