In the pursuit of meaningful development, one undeniable truth reigns supreme: proper data is the lifeblood that fuels progress. In our rapidly evolving digital era, data has rightfully earned the title of “the new oil”—its value indisputable, its reach vast. From informing key decisions and driving innovation to streamlining governance and empowering citizens, data shapes every facet of our society.
Recognising this reality, the Ministry of Communications Technology and Digital Economy has embraced a visionary mandate—to champion the collection and utilisation of accurate, verifiable, and harmonised data across the state.
A significant milestone on this journey was recently marked by a landmark unified data collection meeting, presided over by our esteemed Commissioner. This strategic convening brought together a formidable coalition of state actors and stakeholders, each one instrumental to the state’s developmental agenda.
Among the high-level participants were:
- Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management
- Ministry of Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs
- Ministry of Local Government
- Ministry of MSMEs
- Ministry of Women Affairs
- Ministry of Rural Development
- Planning Commission
- Office of the Special Advisers to the Governor on:
- Social Investment
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Planning and Statistics
- Gender and Affirmative Action
Also present were expert teams from the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office’s State Operations Coordination Unit (SOCU) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
The Commissioner used the occasion to commend SOCU’s commendable work on social register data collection across the state. He stressed the critical importance of harmonising data collection processes across all MDAs. This harmonisation, he noted, is not just a matter of efficiency—it is a catalyst for reducing duplication, maximising resource utilisation, and strengthening inter-agency collaboration.
Each participating agency took time to outline its specific data needs and the unique variables essential to its operations. The session also addressed key issues such as:
- Validating and updating the existing state social register
- Designing a roadmap for expanding the register to cover all 25 LGAs
- Establishing frameworks for shared access and data synergy
In the words of our Commissioner, “In the grand tapestry of development, data is both the warp and the weft. Without it, we risk weaving a fabric that lacks form, focus, and function.”
With this unified approach, the Ministry and its partners reaffirm their commitment to steering the state toward a data-driven, inclusive, and resilient future. The journey has begun—and with every dataset accurately collected and purposefully utilised, we move one step closer to a society that truly works for all.
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#UnifiedDataStrategy