The Statistician-General of Kaduna State and the Chief Executive Officer of the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics (KDBS), Bukar Baba Alhaji (Ph.D), has formally inducted 45 young professionals into the 2025/2026 cohort of the prestigious Click-On Kaduna Data Science Fellowship Programme (DSFP 5.0). This year’s induction is historic, as it marks the fifth anniversary of the fellowship and the first time the programme has expanded beyond its traditional 40 slots to accommodate five additional fellows, reflecting the unprecedented quality of applications received.
Since its inception in 2020, the DSFP has been central to Kaduna State’s drive to institutionalize evidence-based policymaking. The programme trains young professionals in advanced data skills, ranging from machine learning and artificial intelligence to geospatial analysis and data engineering, while placing them in real-world projects that support governance and social development.
Speaking during the induction, the Statistician-General commended the resilience and brilliance of the applicants, noting that the DSFP has become a flagship platform for nurturing a new generation of data leaders. He emphasized that the fellows will be instrumental in advancing Kaduna State’s vision of using data to improve service delivery, monitor development goals, and design policies that touch the lives of millions of citizens.
The fifth edition of the fellowship reflects how far the initiative has come. Alumni of past cohorts are today working as data analysts, project managers, researchers, and decision-support officers within and beyond Kaduna State. Many are also pursuing advanced studies and leading global conversations on the role of data in governance and social good.
This legacy continues in DSFP 5.0, where the induction of 45 fellows is both a recognition of the programme’s growth and a demonstration of the state’s commitment to investing in young talent.
Over the next six months, the new fellows will undergo intensive training and practical placements at the Amina J. Mohammed SDGs Data Lab, working on live projects. The DSFP implementation partners reaffirmed their commitment to providing a transformative experience, with world-class instructors, a modern curriculum, and a supportive learning environment.
