By Anietie Akpan
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Federal Government and other partners on Thursday flagged off the South South Zonal Flag-Off of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7) in Calabar, Cross River state.
With the theme: “MICS 7: Data for Progress”, UNICEF charged the field teams whose work begins after today’s flag-off on professionalism, mastery of survey tools, and commitment to accuracy determine the strength of the data we depend.
While flagging off the Programme, the UNICEF Chief of Field, Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe appreciated the Government of Nigeria and all its partners for their continued collaboration in advancing the rights and well-being of every child.
“We also commend the National Bureau of Statistics and the State Bureaus of Statistics for their strong leadership and commitment to delivering the seventh round of MICS a survey series that has informed child-centered decision-making in Nigeria since 1995”, she said..
Chiluwe who was represented by Mrs Maureen Zubie-Okolo UNICEF, Enugu Office, stated that “MICS remains the country’s most comprehensive and reliable household survey on children and women. It provides the evidence needed to monitor human capital development, child rights, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, national and state development plans, the Renewed Hope Agenda, and sector strategies such as SWAP.
“With nearly 105million children, almost half of Nigeria’s projected total population 216, 783, 381 (2022), the need for accurate, timely, and disaggregated data has never been more critical”.
Beyond statistics, She said the MICS helps us understand where progress is being made and where gaps persist, ensuring that every childregardless of geography or circumstance is counted, visible, and included in planning and service delivery. Their well-being must remain at the heart of our collective development priorities.
UNICEF also called on community leaders and households across the South East to support this exercise as all information provided will be handled with utmost confidentiality, with results released only at national and state levels.
Chiluwe gave the assurance that “UNICEF will continue to provide financial and technical support to the Government of Nigeria throughout the MICS7 process” and expressed gratitude for the contributions of the European Union, the Government of Canada, and the World Bank, whose partnership has made this round possible.
Delivering the keynote address, the Statistician-General of the federation Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, said the event was a share recognition of the vital importance of data production activities, a land mark moment in Nigeria’s quest for high-quality, timely and policy relevant data that speaks directly to the most vulnerable in the society
Adeniran who was represented by a Director, Mustapha Daramola, noted that MICS is a government owned and NBS led flagship household survey, which is globally recognized and coordinated internationally by UNICEF.
He said, “since it first implementation in 1995, MICS has continued to grow in scope, ambition and technical sophistication, making it the most reliable household survey platform”
According to him, MICS goes beyond data, but also shapes policy planning and outcomes, informing where schools are needed and how to strengthen immunization.
In his welcome address, the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem appreciated NBS and UNICEF for choosing Calabar for the event and emphasized the need for data noting that sustainable development of any programme must begin with accurate data.
Ayambem said, “Data for Progress, speaks directly to the realities of our time. stating that the theme should not be a slogan, but rather must be demonstrated through facts, figures, trends, and measurable outcomes”.
He stressed further that for those in government, the path to sustainable development must begin with accurate data, because data tells where we are, where the gaps lie, and what must be done to move the people forward.
He also emphasized that “MICS-7 is not just another survey, but a powerful tool that will help us understand the true conditions of women, children, and households across our communities, and will provide essential insights on health, nutrition, education, child protection, WASH, and other indicators that will shape human development.
“Data must lead decision-making, and this Assembly stands firmly behind that principle. I am committed to promoting the use of MICS-7 amongst my colleagues in the South-South zone.
“Today’s flag-off is more than a ceremony. It is a reaffirmation that development must be rooted in truth, and truth measured by data. When we know the facts, we can solve problems. When we understand the gaps”.
In a goodwill message, the State Economic Adviser, Dr. Peter Oti commend the Governor Bassey Otu led state government for his efforts towards data collection.
He said he was saying so because “for the past eight years statistics was not considered for anything. We depended on guess work.
“With statistics we plan to succeed, so let us see how we can improve data collection and release of information to the public”.
