NBS lauds Kwara’s initiative to embark on GDP compilation

Kwara State has taken a significant step toward economic development by investing in the compilation of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2013 to 2022, aligning itself with other structured states in Nigeria. This initiative, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), highlights the state’s commitment to data-driven planning and policy-making.

During a courtesy visit to Government House, Ilorin, Ibrahim Yakubu Tanko, Team Lead of the NBS delegation to Kwara, commended the state for its initiative.

“Kwara State is now joining the structured states in Nigeria. Congratulations to Kwara State for joining that league. Many states have compiled their GDPs from 2015 to 2022,” Tanko remarked.

Representing the Statistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Tanko emphasized the collaborative ethos of the NBS and its dedication to supporting state and national agencies.

“The National Bureau of Statistics is a collaborative agency. The keyword for the National Bureau of Statistics in 2024 is collaboration. Our doors are open to the states and national agencies as far as statistics is concerned,” he stated.

Tanko assured that the NBS would provide the necessary human resources and mechanisms to ensure the success of the GDP exercise in Kwara.

“We are very much open at the National Bureau of Statistics to providing human resources and collaborating with states’ statistical agencies. Over the years, we have opened our hands and allowed states’ statistical agencies to own this mechanism for the compilation of GDP,” he added.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Senior Advisor and Counsellor Sa’adu Salau, recognized the crucial role of the NBS in data gathering and management for effective planning and national development.

“We are all aware of the immense benefits of the National Bureau of Statistics and its critical roles in measuring indicators of the Nigerian economy. As policymakers and leaders, you must ensure that decisions and policies are informed by accurate data. This is what this exercise will do for us,” he said.

Governor AbdulRazaq stressed the importance of accurate data for proper planning, noting, “It is a common saying that he who fails to plan plans to fail. So, there is no way you can talk of proper planning without accurate data. To have accurate data, you must invest because data is not cheap to come by. It is capital intensive. You must follow the due process to ensure diligence. Once one of the processes is compromised, stakeholders will not rely on the data. Governments at all levels and the private sector rely on data from the National Bureau of Statistics for planning for development.”

He highlighted his administration’s commitment to data-driven policies and initiatives, stating, “It is on record that the present administration’s programs and policies are data-driven. We have put in place a lot of measures to ensure that our policies are informed by data. That is why we are investing in measures to generate accurate data to drive policies in the state.”

AbdulRazaq also discussed efforts to combat poverty and unemployment, mentioning the establishment of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP). “Before this administration came into power in 2019, many industries had disappeared. But the administration has taken a number of measures to ensure that poverty is addressed. This led to the establishment of KWASSIP to address different dimensions of poverty for market women/traders, entrepreneurs, and the aged. A lot of young entrepreneurs have benefitted from the scheme to address unemployment,” he stated.

The ongoing GDP exercise in Kwara State is expected to provide a comprehensive database for effective planning and socioeconomic growth, marking a significant milestone in the state’s developmental trajectory.