Kogi Governor stresses importance of data collection at 6th MICS/NICS survey flag-off »

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Monday, stressed the importance of data collection as a critical resource that impacts positively on civic participation, citizen services, innovation, and government efficiency.

He spoke through his Deputy, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja, flagging off the 6th round of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS6) and National Immunization Coverage Surveys (NICS) in Kogi State, on Monday.

The household exercise is conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the National/Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Performing the flag-off, Chief Onoja, describing the exercise as a tripartite partnership between the Global Community, Nigeria, and Kogi State, noted that data indicators were primal to the policy-making of government such as child immunization, vaccination, and women protection.

He said Governor Bello as a professional accountant, knows the import of data collection and analysis as demonstrated in the creation of the State Bureau of Statistics. He assured the MICS/NICS delegation of maximum security against banditry, kidnapping, and other related crime, calling on Kogites to cooperate maximally with enumerators during the exercise.

Earlier, Commissioner for Finance, Budget, Planning, Asiwaju Idris, in a joint remark with the State Officer, NBS, and State Ag. Statistician-General, said the MICS, first conducted in Nigeria in 1995, is a quadrennial activity envisioned to providing up-to-date data for monitoring social-economic realities for women and children. They noted that the Survey which will run for 67 days, sees the adoption of research instruments like questionnaires for respondents across the 21 LGAs of the State in its 6th schedule.

They regretted the low response rate previously suffered due to skepticism from the populace, noting that enumerators have been duly trained for the exercise. The trio praised Governor Bello for providing the enabling environment for the exercise, an existing security structure in the State, and keeping it afloat despite the politics of Covid-19.

In attendance were the State Deputy Chief of Staff, Rep of the Executive Director, Kogi State Healthcare Primary Agency, Monitoring Officer, MICS6/NICS, government functionaries, critical stakeholders, opinion molders, and other esteemed participants.