A leading Pro-Democracy group, Kwara Must Change has described the ongoing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) computation in Kwara State as a testament to Kwara’s commitment to data-driven development, as data experts say that the exercise is the first of its kind in Nigeria for a subnational government since independence.
Kwara Must Change also said that the GDP computation should be the first, in a series of data computations in the state, which should include Electricity Access, Human Capital Index, Poverty Index, Corruption Index and Peace Index, all of which are essential policy-making instruments to bring about impactful development through the aid of data.
In a statement by the Convener of Kwara Must Change, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group explained that it received with excitement the news of the ongoing computation of GDP in Kwara State, which was not only the first of its kind in Kwara State, but a pioneering move in Nigeria, as all data estimates currently in use in all 36 States of Nigeria werre estimates by 3rd party agents that werre not only our of date, but also unreliable.
According to Hamzat, Kwara Must Change welcomed this initiative by the Kwara State Bureau of Statistics in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics and it encouraged the agency to internalize many externalities in the economy.
“Kwara State GDP computation initiative provides an opportunity to adequately capture the informal economic activities in the state, which many believe account for more economic activities than the formal economy” Hamzat said.
He also stated that the digital economy should be adequately internalized, including crypto, content creation, etc, adding that the ongoing GDP computation should reflect the various sectors of the economy.
Kwara Must Change said that the Kwara State government had embarked on a landmark initiative with potential to make a huge difference in the state economy and it commended the government for the decision, noting that the initiative would be a reference point that captured the baseline assessment for the economy.
It called for the support of the people towards the success of the project, particularly in the kind of data provided to the authorities.
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