Political officeholders, business owners and other policymakers have been enjoined to embrace data in formulating policies for the development of the country.
The charge was given in Lagos at the public presentation of the book: “Nigeria in Figures: A Socio-Economic Databook,” written by renowned economist and Managing Director/Chief Economist of the Analysts Data Services and Resources (ADSR), Dr Afolabi Olowookere.
President, FinTech Association of Nigeria, Dr Segun Aina, opined that the Federal Government and the subnational should make use of data in addressing the many challenges facing the country.
The former President of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, who served as the chairman of the event, said the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led government can build a new Nigeria with the right application of data in planning socioeconomic policies.
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“This book holds a lot of promises for Nigeria. In the face of the many challenges we have, there is opportunity for the new government to look at the process of building a new Nigeria based on data. The book has data that the FG and the subnational including the local government areas can use to plan because if you fail to plan, you have planned to fail. It is a contribution to the government on the tools they can use to move the country forward,” he said.
His view was shared by other speakers and panellists, including investment banker, Toyin Sani; chairman of African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building, Prof Olu Ajakaiye; CEO Global Mandate Consulting, Dr Suleyman Ndanusa and others.
The author, Dr. Olowookere, said he was inspired to write the book, to among others provide data for policy decision, equip policymakers with the necessary data and information for socioeconomic performance, tackle the challenges of inadequate application of data in planning as well as serve as a useful guide for benchmarking and monitoring the country’s socio-economic progress.
The economist, who said inadequate application of data in planning is one of the challenges facing the country, said it took him more than 10 years to write the book.
He said the government needs to be adequately equipped with the necessary data, information and analysis of where we are, how we got here, what has been done in the past and the outcomes, what works elsewhere that can be adapted, as well as what can be done in the immediate, medium and long-term periods.
