*Photo L-R:Statistician General of Federation and Chief Executive Officer, National Bureau of statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, during a visit to the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu*
Towards implementing effective policy formulation, the Statistician General of Federation and Chief Executive Officer, National Bureau of statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran has sought support from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the inclusion of Corps Members in data collation.
He said this would assist the NBS to ensure that data collection and dissemination are inclusive, accessible and actionable at all levels of governance.
The Statistician General made the request during his visit to NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja.
Prince Adeniran said the presence of Corps Members in all the Local Government Areas of the country would assist the NBS in getting accurate data of all residents.
He added that national development can only be possible with the collection of an all-inclusive data of every resident of the country, which is necessary for effective policy formulation and implementation.
He said government and private establishments use data for different purposes, citing research institutions, universities, development partners.
“We want to make sure that our data reach the books and crannies of all parts of the country”.
“Without data, we cannot plan properly. Without data, we cannot formulate effective policy, and we also coordinate the entire Nigerian data ecosystem”, he said.
The Statistician General commended the deployment policy of the Scheme, including its contributions to national unity, integration, youth empowerment among other laudable interventions.
He said there was the need for inclusive data charter with NYSC by training Corps Members that would help to achieve the objective of their assignments through statistical analysis.
The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in his remarks, commended the initiative of the NBS. He stated that statistical data is strategically the bedrock to investment concepts and entrepreneurship, which are also vital to all aspects of national planning and development.
He expressed the readiness of the Scheme to partner with NBS through the flagship of NYSC product, the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), the product being an integral part of the service year, which empowers Corps Members with skills for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
In his words; “NBS is a channel of advocacy for NYSC and collaborating together, we will be able to fly our flag better”.
“We cannot do without data in our day-to-day activities. It’s the foundation for even distribution of resources. Data is central to investment”.
General Nafiu used the forum to appreciate the NBS for creating opportunities for 215 Corps Members to render their National Service with the agency.