Africa must know statistics is the new oil -ECA

Oliver Chinganya, Director, African Centre for Statistics (ACS) at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has sternly told African leaders that statistics is the new oil.

Speaking recently during a panel discussion, The Political Economy of Statistical Capacity, at the 2nd World Data Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, he deplored the fact that when it comes to funding for statistics, “we see more promises than action because our politicians sign documents and make bold statements but a lot of it ends at the level of statements and commitment.”

He pointed out bluntly that African governments need to take urgent, concrete and significant actions “to boost and utilize our statistical capacity, which will then guide their efforts to address ongoing global challenges in health, education, migration, gender, and the environment etc.”

The panel was almost unanimous on the need for improved partnerships within the entire data production and consumption spectrum; the role of the media as essential stakeholders; and the importance of linking privately generated data to the tracking and monitoring of SDGs and African Union’s Agenda 2063.

In conclusion, Chinganya cautioned that “we need to make sure that we have the necessary data by 2030, otherwise we end up where we found ourselves with the MDGs.”