Development Data Day: CITAD Calls for Investment in Inclusive, People-Centered Data Systems
As the world marks Development Data Day—also recognized as World Development Information Day—the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on governments at all levels to prioritize investment in inclusive and people-centered data systems to tackle Nigeria’s development challenges.
In a press release signed by its Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, CITAD emphasized that data plays a transformative role in driving inclusive and sustainable development, especially in countries like Nigeria facing persistent challenges such as poverty, insecurity, gender inequality, and climate vulnerability.
The theme for this year’s observance, “Advancing Global Cooperation for Sustainable Development,” highlights the urgency for international and domestic action in strengthening data systems that are disaggregated, accessible, and inclusive of marginalized groups.
“Many women, young people, and persons with disabilities remain invisible in official data, making it difficult for government to address their specific needs,” the statement noted.
CITAD lamented Nigeria’s weak data ecosystem, citing lack of timely, disaggregated data as a major impediment to designing inclusive policies. Despite multiple development plans, their implementation often falls short due to unreliable statistics and limited digital infrastructure.
A 2022 study by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) found that more than 27 million Nigerians in 97 underserved communities lack internet access—a situation worsened by the recent 2025 NCC tariff hike on mobile data and internet services.
Yet, the organization remains hopeful. Since 2016, CITAD has implemented several programs aimed at closing the digital divide. Notably, its Digital Livelihood Programme has trained hundreds of women and girls in northern Nigeria in areas such as web design, data literacy, and digital marketing.
In partnership with organizations such as the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), CITAD has also piloted community network projects in Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Abuja, which are connecting unserved communities and prompting regulatory engagement with NCC and NITDA.
In Bauchi State, CITAD’s work has led local governments to allocate land for expanding rural digital centers, further solidifying the importance of grassroots-led digital inclusion.
CITAD has also been active in capacity building through data analysis training sessions that have attracted civil servants, civil society actors, and academics. These efforts aim to strengthen institutional capacity for data-driven policy-making, aligned with Nigeria’s goal of building a knowledge-based economy.
The statement acknowledged complementary initiatives, such as the Federal Ministry of Communications and NITDA’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which is equipping Nigerian youth with skills in data science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
CITAD stressed that “data is not just a technical concern; it is a development, governance, and human rights issue,” and issued six key recommendations to accelerate Nigeria’s progress in this area:
1. Increase investment in data infrastructure and human capital, especially in underserved areas.
2. Standardize data systems across all government MDAs to ensure interoperability and coordination.
3. Support and formalize community networks to bridge connectivity gaps.
4. Promote digital equity and data literacy for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
5. Institutionalize open data to encourage civic tech innovation and public transparency.
6. Build national capacity in data analysis and visualization through widespread training of civil servants, researchers, and civil society.
The organization concluded by calling for stronger multi-stakeholder partnerships among government, civil society, the private sector, and international bodies.
“At CITAD, we reaffirm our commitment to building inclusive data systems, advancing digital rights, and supporting citizen-led accountability in Nigeria. Over the past three years, we have prioritized training data scientists and researchers in tools such as Stata, R, and Python to inject evidence into public policy and development strategies,” the statement read.
