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Tag: Olusanya Olubusoye

  • Nigeria has best statisticians in the world – official

    Nigeria has best statisticians in the world – official

    An official of the Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, says Nigeria has one of the best crops of highly respected statisticians in the world.

    Olubusoye, the 2nd Vice President of NSA, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    The official said that the association would be showcasing some of its best brains at the NSA forthcoming international conference.

    The conference, slated from Sept. 6th to 8th at the University of Lagos, will focus on the theme “Positioning National Statistical System for Data Revolution and Inclusive Development”.

    He said statisticians from other countries would be learning from their counterparts in the country at the conference.

    “We have so much to learn from them but in terms of training, they can also learn from us.

    “We have one of the best crops of highly respected statisticians in the world.

    “We have some of them in the country and some abroad; some of them will be giving lectures in their areas of specialisation at the conference.

    “For instance, University of Ibadan (UI) is one of the special training centres on statistics in Africa.

    “We have only three institutions on the continent designated as special training centres and one of them is UI,’’ the official said.

    The official said that the association would also be learning from some statistical associations, institutions and bodies in Africa and abroad.

    “We need to learn from others on how they support their statistical associations to have a vibrant way of producing official statistics.

    “We need to learn the way they promote statistical education, the way they encourage policy makers to use quality statistics for evidence-based decision rather than personal opinion, political interest and other mundane considerations.’’

    He said that the Lagos State Government, through its Bureau of Statistics, would partner with NSA, saying the conference would remain indelible in the history of the country and the association.

    He said that the association chose to partner with Lagos State because it operated a knowledge-based economy.

    “It is one of the states that is run with evidence-based policies process. They have high regard for data and that is why things seem to be getting better in Lagos.

    “ We are collaborating with the state and encouraging it to showcase how they have been using data to make life meaningful and better for the people of Lagos state,’’ the official said.

    Olubusoye said that the association had already inaugurated the Young Statisticians of Nigeria (YSNaija) as a wing of the association.

    YSNaija consists of those studying statistics at undergraduate, Masters to Post-doctoral levels and those who graduated in the last five years or more working in statistics-related areas.

    “ We have been trying to mobilise the early career statisticians to form a very formidable group that can also contribute to nation’s building.

    “ We know that in terms of statistical development, we are still growing, so for us to have a very promising future, the earlier career statisticians have a role to play.

    “We are trying to link them up with their counterparts in other countries such as statisticians in South Africa and the International Statistical institute,’’ he said.

    According to him, statistics is a discipline that globally every age group, from young to adult, is considered to be critical unit and it usually mobilises the citizenries.

    “The groups are coordinated not only by UN, they are also mobilised at the continental level. They are mobilised at the National level, that is what we are already doing now.’’

  • Expert advises FG to fight corruption with statistics

    Expert advises FG to fight corruption with statistics

    Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, 2nd Vice President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has advised the Federal Government to fight corruption by the use of statistics.

    Olubusoye gave the advice on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said that the use of statistics would give detailed successes recorded in the fight against corruption and other social vices in the country.

    “We are yet to value statistics; why is it that we are fighting corruption and we are not successful? Why is it that we are fighting crime and we are not successful?

    “Other countries are using statistics to fight those social menaces; they are using statistics to fight hunger, illiteracy, they are using it to fight outbreak of epidemic.

    “So, without statistics, you are fighting corruption? You are not successful because you are fighting an evil you have not measured.’’

    He explained that statistics was important in determining the success of any project.

    “Why are we not measuring corruption every year or on quarterly basis? Measure corruption in the ministries; measure corruption in Police; measure corruption in Immigration and measure corruption in Port Authority.

    “Have our own index and measure it and then release those indices, just like National University Commission (NUC) will release ranking of Universities.

    “ Let us have the release every month and know which agency of the government is most corrupt. That way you will be fighting corruption

    “For purpose of illustration, if you rank Immigration as the most corrupt government agency this month, everybody will wake up.’’

    He called for more budgetary allocation to the offices of statistics in various MDA’s for capacity building as well as trainings within and outside the country.

    “This world is a village, you cannot be in isolation. You can’t practice your own statistics in your own small room. There is a global standard; there is a global practice and best practices.

  • 2017 budget: Association advises FG to come up with independent monitors, assessors

    2017 budget: Association advises FG to come up with independent monitors, assessors

    Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, 2nd Vice President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has advised the Federal Government to constitute a group of independent monitors and assessors to monitor implementation of the 2017 budget.

    Olubusoye gave the advice while sharing his views on some burning national issues in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the government should come up with a group, consisting of experts from the relevant professional associations including NSA.

    “An objective and independent budget monitoring group will promote transparency and provide the needed checks and balances in the budget implementation.’’

    The official, however, commended the Federal Government for the signing of 2017 Appropriation Budget into law, adding that it was a big relief for Nigerians.

    Olubusoye also urged the government to begin implementation of the budget in earnest in order to bring succour to the citizens.

    “The most important thing is to hit the ground running as far as implementation is concerned.

    “If the thrust of the budget will be achieved, then there must be constant monitoring, continuous evaluation and periodic reporting of progress made, challenges encountered and outstanding tasks,’’ he emphasised.

    In addition, he urged the government to create jobs for unemployed Nigerians as it would go a long way in addressing the high level of unemployment in the country.

    The latest unemployment reports released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the country’s unemployment rate rose from 13.9 per cent in the third quarter to 14.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016.

    “The production of labour market statistics by NBS is a major positive development in Nigeria.

    “The increase from 13.3 per cent to 14.2 per cent reported in the unemployment rate could easily be attributed to the fact that the unemployed population is increasing.

    “It means the unemployed population (those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work but without work) is increasing faster than the labour force population.

    “The only way to halt this phenomenon is to create more jobs for those who are within the working age population that are willing, able and actively looking for work.’’

    The official said that the challenge before NBS was to put emphasis on the production of timely statistics on job creation and for the government to create enabling environment for job creation to thrive.

    “How many jobs are created and how many are entering the labour force population monthly?

    “Providing answer to these questions is the starting point to reducing unemployment rate in Nigeria,’’ he said.

  • Statistician canvasses evaluation mechanism in FG’s economic recovery plan

    A statistician, Dr Olusanya Olubusoye, has advised the Federal Government to accompany the just inaugurated Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) with basic monitoring and evaluation kits.

    Olubusoye, the second Vice-President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

    The ERGP’s projected that Nigeria will make significant progress to achieve structural economic change with a more diversified and inclusive economy in five key areas by 2020.

    The key areas are stable macro-economic environment, agricultural transformation, food security, sufficiency in energy and improved transportation infrastructure.

    He said that government should accompany the ERGP with basic monitoring and evaluation kits such as performance indicators, data collection framework and reporting schedule.

    “A simple illustration to use is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global plans of action.

    “Both of them were accompanied with achievable goals, quantifiable targets, performance indicators, data requirements and even reporting framework.

    “For instance, MDGs had 21 quantifiable targets and 60 indicators for tracking progress on the agenda while the current SDGs has 17 goals and 232 performance indicators.

    “So, the truth is that without practical indicators, goals remain purely aspirational and progress cannot be measured,” he said.

    Similarly, the official said reliable and timely data were needed for systematic follow-up and progress reviews.

    Olubusoye said that government should also look at the nature of the plan and review it.

    According to him, the plan is macro-centric rather than micro-centric in nature.

    “The plan emphasises more on economic aggregates, Gross Domestic Product, which hardly reflect the reality at the micro levels.

    “Individual is concerned with how the plan will translate to improved quality of life, more food on the table, affordable housing, affordable and accessible health facilities.

    “They are also looking at good water, safe and secured environment, quality education, basic infrastructure such as good roads, railway, among others.’’

    He, however, said that it was not clear how many people the plan would cater for.

    “By this, I mean the population figure used for the plan.

    “Nowhere in the plan is reference made to the current population size but quick to project 289 million by year 2050.

    “How realistic is the figure? Is the figure our own, or estimated, or ‘guesstimated’?

    “How many people are covered in the first year of implementation? How many will be covered in the second year and up to 2020?

    “What if the country is planning for more or for less people than it has now, Can such a plan be realistic?”

    The official said that the fundamental question with regards to the plan was the way it differed from the previous development plans.

    He said, “how is ERGP different from the previous plans such as the 1st – 4th National Development Plans, Structural Adjustment Programme, National Economic Empowerment And Development Strategy.

    “The other question: Is it different in concept, scope, goals, monitoring, evaluation, performance indicators, reporting schedule etc?”

    Olubusoye said that those were the important areas and gaps that the government needed to fill in the plan.

    “The solution is to fill the missing gaps in the plan and the basic thing is also to use data appropriately.

    “We don’t have regard for data in this country. How can you have good plan like this and you don’t have performance indicator?

    “You don’t have framework for collecting data that will help you to monitor progress and yet you don’t have reporting framework. How will the government be reporting to Nigerians on progress made,’’ he said.