World Bank, NBS Host Training of Business Enumerators in Edo
By Victor Ofure Osehobo, Benin City
A training to enable enumerators carry out inventory of both formal and informal business establishments across Edo state for the National Business Samples Census, NBSC, has commenced in Benin City.
The event which will last three days is being organized by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the World Bank is to develop a national directory of commercial and business establishments with all their associated social and economic characteristics.
Edo State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Princess Momoh Omoregbe, at the event said the training is critical as the country is in the process of designing a Medium Term and Perspective Development Plan tagged “Nigeria Agenda, 2050″.
In her words, “Planning and policy formulation can only be effective when statistics is promoted as a tool for development planning and evidence-based policy making”.
The commissioner said, “Failure to make recourse to statistical information in the course of governance has retarded our development in the past, which made it difficult to determine how best to provide essential services and in what quantity.”
She then urged the participants to take the training seriously, as the conduct of the census will help to increase the quantum and quality of statistics required for policy formulation, planning, monitoring and evaluation of government programmes and projects.
The Statistician General of the Federation represented by the Edo State Officer of the NBS, Comrade Obaide Frank, said the information emanating from the census activity is primarily useful in understanding the nature and structure of the economy.
According to him, “This exercise along with many others over the years have been extremely critical to the development of the national statistical system and to policymaking and monitoring in Nigeria.
He added, “Technology will be fully deployed during this period as it will help and enable enumerators in fast and accurate collection of data. The results of the exercise are particularly important for statistical operations and policymaking in Nigeria.”
Director of Statistics, Edo State Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, David Obanubi, urged the participants to take the task ahead seriously.
He said it will determine the accuracy of statistical data from Edo State in regards to businesses and industries in the state adding that, “If data is well collected, the census will positively affect us. I urge you all to put in your best in the training”.
