ABUJA: Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, has emphasized the importance of utilizing statistics to authentically represent the African narrative. He stressed this point during the 2024 African Statistics Day Celebration held by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed ‘Supporting Education by Modernising the Production of Fit-For-Purpose Statistics’, provided a platform for Bagudu to call for the establishment of an African-specific credit rating agency. This agency would more accurately reflect the continent’s unique realities, countering the often opaque methodologies employed by existing global rating bodies. Bagudu underscored the need for the African statistical system to highlight the true story of the continent, one characterized by the resilience and industriousness of its people.
Bagudu pointed out that African statistical narratives should showcase the hard work of individuals, such as women who juggle mul
tiple responsibilities from early morning, yet remain unrecognized by global credit systems. He contrasted this with other regions where less industrious individuals might receive more acknowledgment from statistical systems. He emphasized the need for Africans to take charge of their narrative, portraying the continent’s citizens as not only hardworking but also honorable.
He further elaborated on the necessity of reshaping statistics that often cast Africa in a negative light, suggesting that a more accurate representation could enhance the continent’s image in global capital markets. Bagudu highlighted the importance of independent statistical systems and praised the Tinubu-led administration for upholding the ‘sanctity of data’, ensuring that the NBS operates without governmental interference.
Bagudu concluded by acknowledging the current challenges but expressed optimism that by confronting these realities and making tough decisions, Africa could achieve its desired outcomes with the help of robust dat
a systems. This, he asserted, is the true African story that needs to be told.