Students congratulate Statistician-General over reappointment
NAN-H-8
Achievement
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Abuja, Dec. 13, 2016 (NAN) The Association of Northern Nigerian Students (ANNS) on Tuesday congratulated the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, for his reappointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group noted that Kale was reappointment due to his contributions to the nation’s development.
Speaking at a ceremony in his honour in Abuja, the Secretary-General of ANNS, Malam Mohammed Garba, said Kale had been a model for them and they would emulate his achievements in office.
Garba, who read the citation of honour in commemoration of Kale’s re-appointment, said he has been applauded by Nigerians and foreign observers for his reforms in the data process.
He said Kale had been acknowledged for the reforms which many believed had restored sanity to the data production processes in Nigeria.
“Under his tenure, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria was recalculated, and following the recalculation, Nigeria was declared as the nation with the largest GDP in Africa,’’ Garba said.
Earlier, ANNS’s National President, Mr Omoba Mitchel, said: “We believe in what you believe in, we believe in your achievements and we believe you will be a guiding light unto us as the future generation.
“We believe in your dreams and that is why we have come to identify with you and appreciate your efforts and also share in your wealth of experience.
“The only way is to come and encourage you after we read your profile.’’
Responding, Kale said he considered the honour as a huge privilege to receive the students on one hand and to receive the award on the other hand.
“In the cause of one’s life, you will get award from different people, you can get award from your bosses, award from peers and contemporary.
“There is none that can be fulfilling when the appreciation comes from what I like to describe as the `future’.
“We always want to leave legacy for the future and not for the past.
“So when the `future’ is acknowledging you, it gives you more satisfaction than any other thing,’’ Kale said.
He said that his achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the staff and management of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Kale, however, received and accepted the award on behalf of the hardworking and long suffering staff.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kale assumed office in 2011, and was re-appointed in 2016, making him the first Chief Executive in the agency’s history to serve two terms as Statistician-General.
Kale is also on the boards of Skye Bank and the SFS Capital Nigeria Limited.
Before assuming office, he acted as a Special Adviser to the Ministers of Finance and National Planning as well served as the Group Head of Research and Strategy at the Investment Banking and Trust Company, now Stanbic IBTC Bank. (NAN)
CIA/DO/MST
Edited by David Onilede/Muhammad Suleiman Tola