Lagos State University on Friday said that it would partner with the Centre for Science and Environment of India on effective use of data for strategic communication in Africa.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, made this known at a three-day skills development workshop held at the Ojo Campus of the institution.
The workshop was entitled: “Development through Data: Africa Workshop on How to Use Data for Strategic Communication in Development’’.
Fagbohun said that lack of appropriate data had been identified as the bane of development in Africa.
He said that the problem often impeded development planning.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the workshop was collaboration between the universities’s School of Communication and CSE.
The collaboration is in a bid to address the peculiarities of data gathering and dissemination within the African context.
Prof. Rotimi Olanrewaju, Dean, LASUSOC, said that availability of appropriate and reliable data often provided the basis for creative solutions to societal challenges.
Olanrewaju said that the collaboration was worthwhile because data were important to the formulation and execution of development programmes.
Olanrewaju said: “I am optimistic that this partnership will continue to positively impact both on scholarship and development efforts in the two countries.’’
Kiran Pandey, Director, CSE’s Indian Environment Portal, said that the workshop was aimed at establishing a community of data drivers who would work together to make governments more transparent and accountable.
Pandey said that the collaboration was beneficial to both Nigeria and India.
Pandley said: “It was one of the first attempts to provide a platform for the people who engage in the role of nation building.
“Both India and Nigeria face similar challenges in data collection and processing.
“The reason we partnered with LASU is because the university is the right place to reach out with young minds who will play major roles in nation building.
“LASU is in Lagos which is one of the cities in Nigeria with the largest economy and population.
“That is why the centre decided to kick-start from the institution to reach out to other African countries.’’
Pandey said that the university and the centre had agreed to continue to exchange expertise and experiences in the fields of development communication, journalism and data science.
She said that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed to that effect.
The director of CSE lauded the cooperation of the workshop participants.
She said that the programme showed great potential in the field of data.
Rajit Sengupta, Trainer in CSE’s Down to Earth Magazine, India, said that the workshop was an attempt to share learning and experiences between the two countries.
Sengupta said that the centre had been using data and stories to highlight challenges and successes in the field of environment and development for the past 25 years in India.
Dr Suraj Adekunle, Sub-Dean LASUSOC, noted that improper data recording would retard developmental projects.
Adekunle said that most African countries were not properly ranked because their data could be assessed and ascertained.
Adekunle said: “African countries rely on whatever the foreign countries give us because we do not have data.
“That is why most of the advice given to us do not work for us; they do not suit our problems.’’
According to him, these reasons propelled LASU to collaborate with the CSE on data management.
He said: “Once an individual or country is able to know how to source for and keep data, then, planning effectively for the available resources will not be a problem.’’
Adekunle said that MoU had been signed between the institution and the
centre, which would make LASU a hub of advisory and consultancy for CSE in Africa.
Funmi Omoboriowo, a journalist with Radio Lagos, who participated in the workshop, hailed the organisers for efforts in addressing data management problem in Nigeria.
She said that the workshop was an eye opener into the development aspect of data.
Omoboriowo said: “We have been taught how to harness other aspects such as knowing, sourcing and authenticating data.”
NAN reports that no fewer than 60 participants were at the workshop.
They include media professionals, government officials, academics, members of the civil society and operators of corporate organisations.