NMEC Advocates for Homegrown Data to Guide Nigeria's Education Sector
Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Musa Maitafsir, has strongly emphasised the critical need for Nigeria to develop and rely on homegrown data to steer its education sector. Speaking at a one-day stakeholders meeting in Abuja, Maitafsir highlighted the limitations of depending on externally sourced statistics from international organisations.
Critique of International Data Sources
Prof. Maitafsir expressed significant reservations about the use of data from entities such as the World Bank and UNESCO. He noted that these reports often portray Nigeria in an unfavourable light and may not fully capture the nuanced realities and progress within the country's education system. According to him, external assessments can be misleading and do not always reflect the on-the-ground advancements being made.
"It is time for Nigeria to take ownership of its data narrative," Maitafsir asserted. He argued that local institutions possess the necessary capacity and contextual understanding to produce more accurate and balanced statistics. By prioritising credible, locally generated data, Nigeria can better inform its educational policies and strategies.
Call for Collaboration and Professionalism
The meeting, titled 'Enhancing strategic collaboration between State Agencies for Education (SAME) and NMEC for the eradication of illiteracy, advancement of vocational and skills-acquisition education and improved data credibility in the non-formal education sub-sector', brought together key stakeholders. In separate presentations, Dr Babajide Williams, Acting Director of the Network Department, and Dr John Edeh, Director of the Literacy Department, urged participants to embrace professionalism, accuracy, and consistency in data collection and reporting.
They stressed that reliable data is the backbone of effective policy formulation and implementation. The directors emphasised the adoption of modern data management tools and methodologies to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure uniformity across states. Building technical capacity at all levels was highlighted as essential for achieving a credible and functional data system in the education sector.
Success of Foreign-Trained Scholars
In a related development, 26 beneficiaries of the Barau I. Jibrin Education Foundation have returned to Nigeria after successfully completing their postgraduate studies in India. These Kano indigenes excelled in specialised fields such as Cyber Security and Forensic Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning, justifying the human investment made by Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin.
Hosting the scholars at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Jibrin, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Bashir Mohammad Fagge, expressed satisfaction with their academic achievements. He reiterated that this investment is expected to enhance human capital development and productivity in Kano and Northern Nigeria, filling gaps in specialised areas and reducing unemployment.
Jibrin described the scholarship as a strategic initiative that broadens access to postgraduate studies for brilliant students and breaks barriers to higher education. He encouraged the beneficiaries to prepare for the next phase, which will focus on PhD programmes, underscoring the importance of continuous academic advancement.
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gari Local Council, Shitu Madaki, congratulated the graduates and urged them to apply their acquired knowledge and skills toward the development of Kano State and Nigeria. On behalf of the graduates, Aliyu Ibrahim expressed gratitude to Jibrin, assuring him that they would not disappoint.
