A professor of Statistics in the University of Ilorin, Peter Osanaiye, has called on governments to put statistics into better use, saying that any nation that does not have good statistics cannot have sustainable development.
Speaking with journalists after delivering the 250th inaugural lecture of the university, titled, Quality blended statistics- A veritable tool for universal breakthrough, Professor Osanaiye lamented that some states of the federation have not domesticated their statistical masterplan nor funded it.
“When we put acts of statistics in all we do, you’ll see that Nigeria will develop. Talking of sustainable national development, I said we have to strengthen our statistical system both at the national and sub national levels, and everyone involved in data, be it in private sector or public sector, should be statistical and quality literate, because statistics can even have flaws if it’s not of good quality.
“I know Nigeria can move forward. Statistics is the eye of policy and decision makers. You factor objectivity in it to make things happen. I’m a crusader of statistics so, I believe we should be able to contribute our bits by having dialogue at the national level.”
The Professor of Statistics, who identified lack of manpower and facility as problems of having accurate statistics in the country, said that, “Before you have accurate data you must put in place the man power. We don’t even have the manpower and the facility.
“Some states, up till today, have not domesticated their statistical plan, they’re not funded. And if they’re not funded, how would they progress? And again, they don’t know the import.
“Even generating revenue, if you have good statistics, you will be able to make it. If you don’t have good statistics how would you even know who to ask? So, you need to have your good data base to be able to generate revenue. And if you don’t use statistics for objectivity or for policy making, things cannot work. Any nation that does not have good statistics cannot have sustainable development.”
Professor Osanaiye therefore recommended an immediate review of the national and state statistics master plan to strengthen and modernize the statistical system.
“Every country needs timely, reliable, independent, trust worthy, comparable and available statistics to describe its social, demographic, economic and environmental conditions which create knowledge for planning and development that is nationally produced,” he said.
The university don lamented that statistics offices are still plagued with such bottlenecks as weak infrastructure, inadequate human resources, insufficient financial resources, duplication of data sources and poor coordination among data users, producers and other stakeholders among others.
“In addition to that, there is current need for the National Statistical System to key into the new era of Data Revolution and use of Big data which are currently a necessity for Sustainable Development,” he said.
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