The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) joins the global community to commemorate Development Data Day, also known as World Development Information Day, reinforcing the transformative role of data in promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
Instituted by the UN General Assembly, the observance highlights the importance of robust data systems and enhanced international cooperation in solving global development challenges and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While it is important to celebrate the day with different activities, we deem it necessary to draw the attention of policymakers and stakeholders at different levels to give special attention to data generation and its impactful application for development-oriented programs.
Data, if well utilized can be a panacea to series of internal challenges that Nigeria is facing, be they security-related, governance matters, health, environmental and climate issues
This year’s theme, “Advancing Global Cooperation for Sustainable Development,” is particularly relevant in Nigeria, where deep-rooted development challenges such as poverty, unemployment, insecurity, inadequate access to education and healthcare, gender inequality, and climate vulnerability persist.
These challenges are exacerbated by weak and fragmented data systems, which undermine evidence-based decision-making, hinder resource allocation, and obstruct efforts to reach marginalized and underserved communities.
Across rural communities and underserved urban areas, many women, young people, and persons with disabilities remain invisible in official data, preventing the government from adequately addressing their needs.
Nigeria continues to face serious data deficits.
CITAD has consistently flagged the country’s limited access to timely and disaggregated data, noting how it impedes the design of inclusive policies.
Our data ecosystem is poor, lacking both in capacity and infrastructure, necessary for the timely collection, processing, storage, retrieving, transmission and use of data.
Although several national development plans exist, their implementation is often misaligned due to a lack of reliable statistics, especially data disaggregated by gender, disability, and geography.
The digital divide further compounds the challenge as citizens and organizations face difficulties in sharing data across geographies and sectors in the country.
A 2022 Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) study revealed that over 27 million Nigerians in 97 underserved communities lack internet access, effectively excluding them from the digital economy and participation in data ecosystems.
Rising costs of internet access and mobile data, especially following the 2025 NCC tariff hike, threaten to widen this gap even further.
Despite these obstacles, there are promising signs. CITAD has implemented several impactful initiatives aimed at bridging Nigeria’s data and digital gaps.
Since 2016, CITAD’s Digital Livelihood Programme has trained hundreds of women and girls in northern Nigeria in areas such as web design, digital marketing, and data literacy, helping to increase digital inclusion and economic empowerment.
In partnership with international stakeholders such as the FCDO’s Digital Access Programme and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), CITAD has also piloted community network projects across Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Abuja.
These community-led initiatives are helping to bring internet access to unserved regions and have prompted positive engagement with regulatory agencies like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
CITAD’s advocacy has also influenced policy dialogue.
In Bauchi State, local governments have already allocated land to CITAD for the expansion of its rural digital centers.
This growing recognition of community-driven solutions signals an opportunity to integrate grassroots voices into national development strategies.
In the area of data capacity building, CITAD has been organizing trainings on data analysis, drawing participation from government officials, civil society actors, and academics which has stressed the need to develop institutional capacity for data-driven planning and policy.
This effort aligns with Nigeria’s broader ambition to develop a knowledge-based economy that values statistics, transparency, and innovation.
Beyond CITAD’s work, other initiatives across Nigeria are contributing to a stronger development data ecosystem.
The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, a project by the Federal Ministry of Communications and NITDA, is training young Nigerians in data science, cybersecurity, and AI.
As the global community reflects on Development Data Day, it is evident that data is not just a technical issue, it is a governance issue, a development issue, and a human rights issue.
CITAD firmly believes that without inclusive, accurate, and transparent data, Nigeria cannot achieve the 2030 Agenda or truly ensure that no one is left behind.
To accelerate progress in this area, we recommend followings:
The government must substantially increase investment in data infrastructure and human capital. Federal and state governments should allocate dedicated funding to modernize data systems, provide training for personnel, and deploy digital tools that enable real-time and disaggregated data collection, particularly in underserved areas.
- There is an urgent need to foster collaboration and standardization across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). By adopting common data protocols and improving interoperability, Nigeria can reduce duplication, improve coordination, and build an integrated national data architecture that supports coherent policy implementation.
- The government should formalize and fund community networks. Recognizing community networks within national ICT policy frameworks and providing financial support through institutions like the USPF will help bridge connectivity gaps and empower local innovation. These networks should be seen as complementary to existing telecom infrastructure, particularly in areas where traditional providers find limited commercial incentive.
- Nigeria must prioritize digital equity and data literacy. Expanding access to digital tools and skills, particularly among women, youth, and persons with disabilities will ensure that all citizens can participate meaningfully in a data-driven society. Existing programmes like 3MTT should be scaled and decentralized to reach rural populations.
- Open data must be institutionalized. Government agencies at all levels should commit to open data principles and support the development of civic tech solutions that promote transparency, innovation, and citizen engagement.
- Nigeria must strengthen national capacity for data analysis and visualization. This includes investing in training for civil servants, researchers, and civil society organizations in the use of analytical tools to inform policy, advocacy, and service delivery. Initiatives like CITAD’s data analysis trainings are essential and should be mainstreamed across sectors.
Initiatives like CITAD’s data analysis trainings are essential and should be mainstreamed across sectors.
Collaboration between government institutions, development partners, civil society, private sector, and international organizations to create a more inclusive, innovative, and transparent data ecosystem.
At CITAD we reaffirm our commitment to building inclusive data systems, advancing digital rights, and supporting citizen-led accountability in Nigeria.
That is why in the last three years we channeled greater attention and resources into building the capacity of data scientists, researchers, analysts, academics and students in the area of using modern data analysis packages such as the ‘Stata, R and Python’ to be able to advance the cause of injecting data into various societal development initiatives.
