By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The Delta State Government has commenced a three-day intensive Data Analysis and Visualization Workshop for civil servants, aimed at boosting planning efficiency, informed decision-making, and service delivery in the state.
The training, which kicked off on Thursday at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba, is being organized by the Ministry of Economic Planning in collaboration with Universal Investment and Development Company Limited (UIDC).
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, the Director of Statistics, Ms. Nkechi Maduemezia, described data as the “new oil” that drives modern development.
“Data is information. Data is life. Data is the future,” she declared. “When you analyze and visualize data, you get actionable insights that make decision-making faster, clearer, and more efficient.”
Maduemezia, a member of both the Computer Professionals of Nigeria and the Nigerian Statistical Association, urged participants to fully engage in the training, stressing that data-driven governance remains the backbone of 21st-century public service.
“Data is the new oil. When you visualize it, even a layman can understand it.”
— Nkechi Maduemezia
Speaking on behalf of UIDC, the company’s CEO, Mr. Godwin Mukoro, who represented Dr. Timothy Igbinosa, Head of Corporate Strategy and Planning, said the programme is timely and necessary for civil servants to keep pace with global digital trends.
“Everywhere is digital now — from phones to vehicles. We must decide to run fast or risk being left behind by civilization,” Mukoro said.
“We discovered a huge gap in data analysis capacity, and this workshop is designed to fill that gap. Civil servants must think outside the box and embrace digital tools for better governance outcomes.”
Mukoro identified three categories of civil servants in the digital era — those without basic digital skills, those who have the knowledge but fail to apply it, and the few who actively use these tools — and challenged participants to move into the third category to drive innovation in the state’s public service.
Also speaking, Mr. Gbe Lewis, a capital market consultant, highlighted the crucial role of UIDC, a state-owned finance and management development company under the Ministry of Finance, in supporting government through training and capacity development.
“Data analysis and visualization are essential for effective planning and decision-making. This workshop aligns perfectly with the state’s agenda to enhance efficiency and growth,” Lewis said.
The three-day workshop features practical sessions on modern data handling and visualization techniques, equipping participants to present information in formats that enable faster and more accurate policy decisions.