By Murtala Muhammad
Bauchi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improve data-driven planning and decision-making processes as part of efforts to accelerate sustainable development across the state.
The State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Hajiya Amina Katagum, made the pledge while declaring open a three-day training on data management for over fifty planning officers.
She said the training was aimed at equipping officers with the technical knowledge required to generate, interpret, and apply reliable data for effective planning and resource allocation.
Hajiya Amina Katagum commended the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, for supporting the initiative, adding that the state government would sustain partnerships with UNFPA, UNICEF, and other development partners to strengthen institutional capacity.
The UNFPA Programme Officer in Bauchi State, Ms Deborah Tabara, said the agency prioritises the use of timely, inclusive, and culturally relevant data as key to achieving national and state development goals.
She explained that UNFPA was committed to promoting the generation and utilisation of disaggregated data to drive positive social and economic change in communities.
Ms Tabara reaffirmed the organisation’s principle of inclusiveness and leaving no one behind, stressing that the training would enhance data quality and accountability in planning processes.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Jibril Mohammed Yusuf, appreciated UNFPA’s technical support and urged participants to take full advantage of the sessions to build their competence as planners.
