NAN-HE-23
Institutions
By Cecilia Ologunaga
Lagos, Sept. 6, 2017 (NAN) Prof. Sidney Onyeagu, the President of Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) on Wednesday, said no fewer than 30 higher institutions had so far joined the Young Statisticians wing of the association.
Onyeagu said this at a 3-day maiden edition of International Statistical Conference, organised by NSA in Lagos with the theme, “positioning National Statistical Systems for Data Revolution and Inclusive Development.’’
He said that the association had been supporting the activities of the wing to equip the early career statisticians to contribute to nation’s building.
The wing, recently inaugurated, consists of those studying statistics at undergraduate, Masters to Post-doctoral levels and those who graduated in the last five years or more working in statistics-related areas.
The official said that the association had also had two planning, research and statistical workshops in the year.
“We also had a free workshop on statistical distributions for our post graduate students all over the country at the University of Ibadan,’’ he said.
Onyeagu, however, said that the conference would create a forum for exchange of best practices among the participating national statistical offices, institutions, academicians, professionals and stakeholders from the country and abroad.
He said that the conference would generate novel ideas that would help position national statistical system to address the challenges arising from data revolution.
“It will also discuss the need to provide data support for policy makers towards achieving inclusive development,’’ the official said.
In addition, the official thanked the Lagos State Government for sponsoring the conference, noting that the fund was the highest received from any state government in the past 25 years.
In his remarks, the Statistician General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale said that the theme of the conference was apt and that it spoke to the current issues on statistical system.
Kale was represented by Dr Isiaka Olanrewaju, Director of Real Sector and Household Statistics Department in NBS.
The Statistician General said that the theme of the conference spoke to the statistical system which called for improvement in the quality of data they generate in the country.
He said of all the themes of the conference in the past 40 years, the 2017 theme was the only one directed to developing statistical system.
“The theme cannot come at any other time than now; we have to produce more relevant and timely data to speak to various governments in this country.
“You will recall in recent time, there has been mis- interpretation of data given by various statistical agencies.
“But, this is better than when people don’t know that statistics do exist so we have a lot to do in educating people on interpretation of data itself,’’ he said.
According to him, NBS will continue to support the NSA in order to achieve its set objectives.
Also speaking, Dr Ngozi Egbuna, the Director-General, West African Monetary Institute called on women to take their position in the profession of statistics.
Egbuna said looking at the issue of gender balance in the NSA, she said that the current composition of Council and outcome was amazing; only one woman out of 12 members.
“This is very poor performance by all standards. Who is to be blame for this imbalance, after all, these positions are products of elections process.
“Women must therefore, rise up both in learning and social participation to be able to assume their place in various positions.
“I am certain that there are capable women even as I speak, I could mention a few.
“I therefore urge us to join the men and ensure the association and indeed the country at large achieve measurable, quantifiable and credible results, she said.
NSA founded in 1976 as a non-profit making professional body comprising of Statisticians, Economists, Planners, Demographers, Analysts and corporate organisations with interest in Statistics. (NAN)
CIA/EAL/EAL
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi