ABUJA – The Agriculture Market Information System (AMIS) is to provide capacity development within the strategic plan for agricultural and rural statistics, to sustain efforts aimed at improving statistical [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]skills and infrastructure.
The National Project Coordinator of AMIS, Mr Olutayo Oyawale, said this on Monday at a two-day Workshop on Open Data Implementation and Dissemination Policies in Abuja.
The workshop was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
“Training and technical assistance will be provided to agencies to design and implement quality statistical processes from the data collection to data dissemination.
“In particular, training plan will be developed within the strategic plan for agricultural and rural statistics to sustain efforts to improve statistical skills and infrastructure,’’ Oyawale said.
Speaking on the importance of open data implementation and dissemination, the FAO ICT consultant, Miss Toks Fayomi, stressed the value of open data in governance and innovation.
“Open data has the potential to spur innovation and entrepreneurship as well as drive better governance and encourage citizen engagement.
“Freely available data is able to empower citizens and create fora for collaboration,’’ Fayomi said.
She said other benefits of open data included improved efficiency of government services by reducing redundant expenditure and transactional costs.
According to her, it is also improving efficiencies in sharing data within MDAs and also with the public; and improving data quality through citizen feedback.
“One of the key challenges in Nigeria with open data includes the funding aspect.
“Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) often cite lack of funding as a barrier to releasing data and concerns over losing current revenue brought in through sale of reports and data sets.
“Governments around the world also face this challenge and many have found that there is indeed a return on investment (ROI). It is not always direct or immediate, but the ROI is often immense,’’ Fayomi said.
She said collection of taxes from the number on new companies formed using open data, in many cases, could be re-routed to the agencies that produced the data. (NAN)
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