Published: August 24, 2023

Kaduna, Nigeria – On August 23, 2023, a distinguished delegation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation headed by Caroline Jehu-Appiah, Deputy Director of Health, Nutrition, and Eradication, BMGF; Caitlin Mazzilli, Deputy Director of Primary Health Care, BMGF; and Dr. Anthony Shamang, BMGF Representative for Kaduna State, paid a visit to the Amina J. Mohammed SDGs Data Lab.

On the ground to receive the team was the Statistician-General of the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics, his Directors, and Heads of Units. Also present was the NFTI team, led by the Executive Director, Mr. Nuradeen Maidoki.

The focus of the visit was to deliberate on the remarkable achievements of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Data Lab project and to identify avenues for further enhancement. The Head of the Project and Technical Coordination Unit, Mr. Tochukwu Innocent, and Mr. Maidoki made presentations spotlighting the transformative impact that the Data Lab Project has made within Kaduna State and its extended spheres of influence.

The Data Lab Project, a collaborative initiative that is driving Kaduna State’s Data Revolution Plan, is currently being implemented by the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Natview Foundation for Technology Innovation (NFTI). The project is a 5-year commitment aimed at bolstering the state’s data infrastructure and fostering its utilization for informed decision-making. This collaborative endeavor underscores the importance of harnessing data to inform policies across diverse sectors including health, nutrition, education, agriculture, economic development and other key social sectors.

The visit culminated with an immersive tour of the Amina J. Mohammed SDGs Data Lab facility. The visiting team gained firsthand experience with cutting-edge technology and innovative methodologies deployed for data collection, analysis, and policy formulation.

The visit concluded on an optimistic note, with both teams expressing eagerness for future endeavors that will build upon the remarkable progress achieved. The collaborative efforts of the Gates Foundation, NFTI, and other stakeholders exemplify the potency of collective actions in translating data insights into tangible societal benefits.

 

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