Nigeria and other African countries will be celebrating the African Statistics Day on the 18th of November 2016 with the theme, “Strengthening Economic Statistics for Regional Integration, Structural Transformation and Sustainable Development”.

In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs and International Relations, Mr. Sunday Ichedi and made available to Economic Confidential in Abuja notes that the African Statistics Day Celebration is an offshoot of the meeting of Ministers responsible for planning in Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1990 which set aside 18th of November of every year as a special day for statistics and promoting awareness about the important role it plays in the development of the society. Since then, this day has been celebrated across Africa.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) will lead other stakeholders in the Nigerian Statistical System to celebrate the African Statistics Day in a grand style. The celebration commences on Thursday, 17th of November, 2016 with a “Road Show” jointly organised by NBS and the Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA).

This will involve awareness walk through some major streets of Abuja by members of the Statistical Community. This will be followed by a Public lecture on the theme of the celebration with Dr Moses Tule, Dr Ifeolu Falegan and the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation of Central Bank of Nigeria, Office of the Senior Special Assistant on SDGs and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning respectively as speakers. The Public lecture will be held in NBS Headquarters at the Main Conference Hall, Plot 762, Independence Avenue, Central Business District Abuja, on Friday 18th November 2016 by 10am. The general public is invited to participate in the public lecture.

The Statistician General of the Federation on behalf of the entire NSS wishes all a Happy African Statistics Day celebrations.