Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
In Damaturu, the usually quiet capital of Yobe State, government officials, policy experts, and development partners gathered for five intense days of dialogue and training. The goal was clear: to chart a path for data-driven development that can unlock the state’s potential and secure the much-talked-about demographic dividend.
The capacity-building workshop, supported by the Lafiya UK Project and led by the Deputy Governor, drew commissioners, permanent secretaries, statisticians, and representatives of international partners. For Yobe State, long confronted with the challenges of insecurity and underdevelopment, the forum was seen as a turning point in how policies are planned, monitored, and implemented.
“We cannot build the future of Yobe on guesswork or outdated figures,” one senior participant noted during the deliberations. “Accurate data is the foundation of human capital development, and without it, we are simply working in the dark.”
That concern echoed throughout the sessions, where stakeholders admitted that gaps in data collection and usage had often undermined effective governance. Participants listed familiar obstacles: poor technical capacity among data managers, conflicting figures from different sources, and a reliance on population projections that no longer match reality. The absence of functional Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) units across most MDAs, coupled with bureaucratic bottlenecks that restrict data sharing, further weakened policy planning.
But the forum did not stop at lamentations. By the close of the workshop, a clear set of resolutions had been drawn. The most significant was the decision to strengthen the State Bureau of Statistics as the central hub for all state data—ensuring harmonization, comparability, and credibility across sectors. MDAs were also directed to establish or revitalize M&E units, while a state-level policy framework will guide data collection and use.
Other resolutions included updating planning data to align with realistic targets, creating an integrated data system for seamless accessibility, and setting up a competent M&E team to oversee all data-related activities. Together, these steps aim to institutionalize evidence-based governance in Yobe State.
The atmosphere at the closing session was one of renewed determination. Participants pledged stronger collaboration with national data institutions and development partners to enhance technical capacity. More importantly, they reaffirmed their commitment to making data the backbone of the state’s Human Capital Development and Demographic Dividend (HCD-DD) agenda.
For many in attendance, the workshop marked a shift from theory to action. If the resolutions are carried through, Yobe State could be on course to transform its youthful population from a demographic challenge into a demographic dividend—anchored on credible data, effective monitoring, and a culture of accountability.
