Prof. Peter Osanaiye of the Department of Statistics, University of Ilorin, has called for a review of the National and State Statistical Master Plan for reliable, effective and efficient data gathering in Nigeria.
Osanaiye made the appeal on Friday while delivering the 205th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ilorin, entitled “Quality blended statistics – A veritable tool for universal breakthrough”, in Ilorin.
He noted that reviewing the master plan would strengthen and modernise the national statistical system.
He said it would also ensure timely, reliable, independent trustworthy comparable and available statistics to describe its social demographic, economic and environmental conditions for planning and development.
Osanaiye, who lectures in the Faculty of Physical Sciences of the university, underscored the importance of statistics in nation’s development, adding that every country needed effective, efficient and reliable data.
He, therefore, called on planners, policy and decision makers and officers involved in monitoring and evaluation, to ensure literacy in statistics for efficient use in the day to day activities.
According to him, statistics is used in our day to day activities such as predictions, quality testing, and forecasting among many other things.
“Misuse of statistics could produce subtle but serious errors in description and interpretation in the sense that even experienced professionals might fall victims of such errors”.
He, however, recommended that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) align with ‘Data Revolution and Big Data’, as a necessity for sustainable development.
(NAN)