Dataphyte hosts Abuja Open Data Day

By Chiamaka Okafor

A technology company, Dataphyte, over the weekend, hosted Abuja Open Data Day in commemoration of International Open Data Day.

Joshua Olufemi, the Managing Director of Dataphyte said the event is meant to perform the advocacy role of promoting awareness about the importance of open data for development, transparency,innovation and government efficiency.

Olufemi stressed that it will help to build the capacity required in civil society and change agents on how to support or contribute to the proliferation of open data in the society.

On the importance of open data in Nigeria, Olufemi said it provides the tool for decision making, an instrument for citizen engagement and participation in governance.

Read Also: Group advocates for Data Protection

“It is also a context for the accountability sector which includes the civil society and media to constructively criticise and demand accountability from government as well as a tool for eradicating misinformation in public space”.

Agboola Akinola of YouthHubAfrica, a participant said that the programme was an eye opener for him, “it will go a long way in helping me understand what government and civil society are actually doing and also in better decision making”

“Data generally is an evaluation and monitoring tool that can be used to review how decisions of citizens and government, policy and practice is impacting or creating the desired or undesired change or outcome” Ijeoma Okereke, programme executive Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).

Olufemi hopes that people will be introduced to data tools; people become aware of data and its use as well as the problems surrounding data in Nigeria.

The event which had in attendance about 50 participants from the media and civil society space was in collaboration with Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), Connected Development (CODE), International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Open Knowledge Foundation.

Dataphyte is a technology company that deploys data tools and technology for socio-economic development and corporate sector growth outcomes.