Governor Sheriff OborevworiDelta Governor urges statisticians to embrace big data and analytics at international conference in Asaba
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has called for the development of a robust and integrated national data ecosystem to drive Nigeria’s economic growth and prosperity.
The governor made the appeal on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Asaba while declaring open the 2nd International Conference of the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON), themed “Big Data and Analytics in Nigeria: Developing a National Data Ecosystem for Enhanced National Prosperity.”
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, Oborevwori described the theme as timely and forward-looking, stressing that data-driven decision-making remains the cornerstone of sustainable development.
“The true promise of big data lies not in the sheer volume of numbers collected, but in our capacity to transform those numbers into actionable knowledge that drives policy, shapes decisions, and changes lives,” he stated.
Highlighting Delta State’s commitment to statistics, the governor noted that his administration had consistently supported the Central Office of Research and Statistics in conducting and publishing surveys such as the Delta State Statistical Yearbook 2024, GDP reports for 2021 and 2022, Labour Force Survey 2025, Poverty Mapping 2025, and the 2023–2024 GDP figures. He revealed that through poverty mapping and the social register, over 300,000 poor and vulnerable households benefited from interventions under the Delta COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (DCARES) programme.
Oborevwori further urged statisticians to leverage big data analytics, machine learning, and emerging innovations while tackling issues of data governance and privacy in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, represented by Mr. Matthew Nganjiozo, described big data as a “game-changer for education,” citing its potential to optimize resource allocation and personalize learning.
Delta’s Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, lauded CISON for hosting the conference in Asaba, while the Statistician-General of the Federation and CEO of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, and the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Economic Policy), represented by Dr. Usman Okpanachi, also delivered key addresses.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of a plaque and decoration of Governor Oborevwori with CISON paraphernalia, in recognition of his unwavering support for statistics and the institute.
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