POLITICAL Economy

Sokoto Strengthens Data Systems to Achieve Development Goals

by admin on | 2026-04-27 15:36:35

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Sokoto Strengthens Data Systems to Achieve Development Goals

By Mohammad Bala Imam

The Sokoto State Statistician-General, Aburrahman Abdullahi Shagari, has urged public and private sector players, community-based organisations, and other stakeholders to rely on accurate data for meaningful development.

Shagari made the call during a three-day stakeholders’ engagement for the development of the 2026–2030 strategic plan, organised by the State Bureau of Statistics in Sokoto.

He described statistics as a vital tool for economic growth and development, as well as for achieving the 9-point agenda set by Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State.

He said the Sokoto State Government is committed to formulating functional, data-driven policies that align with Islamic principles, cultural values, and the state’s priorities and context.

According to him, the engagement was aimed at fine-tuning the implementation of the five-year plan by scrutinising individual and group roles, partnerships, opportunities, barriers, and communication challenges, among others.

He underscored the importance of the involvement of traditional rulers and community members in providing proper data to enable policymakers make informed decisions.

Shagari noted that the bureau coordinates and manages the state’s data, aligning its activities with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other stakeholders at different levels to facilitate the domestication of national and international policies in line with the state’s core values.

The Statistician-General also spoke on Key Performance Indicators, multidimensional indicator surveys, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and other macroeconomic indicators used to measure growth at national, sub-national, and state levels.

In his presentation, the Lead Consultant and former Vice-Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Professor Salihu Mikailu, highlighted the role of organisations and community groups in supporting effective statistical systems.

Professor Mikailu called for improved partnerships among stakeholders to develop and strengthen the statistical system with trusted data collection processes.

He described the rejuvenation of the State Bureau of Statistics as a step in the right direction and expressed optimism for robust performance with active stakeholder participation and strong political will.

In their separate contributions, the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, and the Executive Officer of the Sokoto State Zakkah and Endowment Commission, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, called for continued stakeholder support, including funding outside government, for data collection processes and the implementation of community-based policies.

The event featured discussions on financing models, government and community approaches to data collection and usage, and other related challenges.

It was attended by religious and traditional leaders, academics, media representatives, community-based organisations, and representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other international organisations.