CISON 2025:Collaboration crucial for national big data ecosystem – Adeniran

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, has emphasised the need for a collaborative approach to building a national big data ecosystem in Nigeria.

Speaking at the 2nd International Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON) on Thursday in Asaba, Adeniran stressed that no single institution or entity could achieve this goal alone.

Adeniran said, “Our nation’s prosperity depends on our ability to transform raw data into actionable intelligence.

”The journey will not be easy, but by working together, the government, the private sector, academia, and professional bodies like CISON, we can build an ecosystem where data flows securely and purposefully, informing every decision we make”, he added.

Adeniran highlighted the importance of partnerships and cooperation among government agencies, private sector, academia, and development partners in building a robust and responsive statistical system.

He further emphasised the need for a shared vision and collaborative network where every data-producing entity is a partner and collaborator to develop a national data ecosystem that can drive national prosperity.

According to him, ”We presently live in an era where data is one of the most valuable assets of any nation, company, or entity.

”The chosen theme, “Big Data and Analytics in Nigeria: Developing a National Data Ecosystem for Enhanced National Prosperity”, is not only timely but also a blueprint for our nation’s future,” he said.

Adeniran also outlined three key principles to guide the development of the national data ecosystem to include ensuring systems “talk” to one another through metadata standards, APIs, and shared platforms.

He also identified bringing government, private sector, academia, and development partners into one ecosystem as well as confidentiality, and compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023 as guidelines to develop national data.

He highlighted the practical benefits of inter-agency collaboration, citing examples such as agriculture policies powered by satellite imagery and farmer registration data, and education reforms guided by integrated data from various agencies.

”Ladies and gentlemen, collaboration is the heartbeat of the national big data ecosystem we seek to build.

”No single agency, no matter how capable, can achieve this alone.

“However, through partnerships, cooperation, and shared responsibility, we can collectively build a system that strengthens governance, drives innovation, and accelerates sustainable development,” he stated.

Adeniran mentioned the National Bureau of Statistics’ initiatives to drive collaboration, including the Integrated System of Administrative Statistics (ISAS) and capacity building programmes with CISON and universities.

Adeniran, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics, urged stakeholders to break down silos and share data in the spirit of national service, leveraging innovations and datasets to unlock new opportunities.

He emphasised that collaboration is the heartbeat of the national big data ecosystem and that together, stakeholders can build a system that strengthens governance, drives innovation, and accelerates sustainable development.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Economic Planning in Delta, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, said the theme of conference, is not only timely but critical.

”In today’s knowledge driven world, data is the new oil, and analytics is the refinery that transforms raw data into actionable insights for governance, policy, and economic growth.

”For us in Delta, this resonates strongly with our development aspirations under the ‘MORE Agenda’ of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori.

”We recognise that sound planning depends on robust data.

”That is why we are investing in systems to strengthen data driven policymaking to ensure that social interventions, infrastructure projects, and economic programmes are targeted where they are needed most.

”This conference brings together a community of statisticians, data scientists, policymakers, and development experts who share a commitment to building a data driven Nigeria

”It is our hope that your deliberations over these days will not only advance academic knowledge but also shape practical frameworks for a stronger national data ecosystem”, he added

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