By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

For the first time since Kwara State was created in 1967, the administration of Governor
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is set to compute and compile the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) so as to have an accurate database for proper planning and socioeconomic growth.

The GDP survey, according to the Governor, would cover key sectors of the economy such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and a value-chain of goods and services.

AbdulRazaq was speaking in Ilorin at a one-day sensitisation campaign on the conduct of Kwara State Gross Domestic Product (KW-GDP) Exercise 2024.

The sensitisation programme was organised by the State Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ahead of July 13 when the data gathering exercise will commence in the state.

“Our administration is committed to conducting a comprehensive survey to arrive at the GDP of Kwara State beginning from July 13, 2024,” the Governor said through the Commissioner for Youth Development Usman Shehu Ndanusa.

“The objectives of the exercise are to have accurate data, identify key drivers of economic growth as far as our state is concerned, and ensure evidence-based policy decisions in the state, among other benefits.

“With this exercise, investors, development partners, and businessmen do not need to guesstimate the status of the state economy before making informed decisions on where they need to put their money. State fiscal policy will now be formulated without sweat because of the importance of GDP for fiscal policy formulation.”

At the event were the Commissioner for Health Dr Aminah Ahmed El-Imam, represented by Dr Oyeyipo Olabisi; Chairperson, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) Folashade Omoniyi, who was represented by Omolara Ojulari; a retired Permanent Secretary in the State Bureau of Statistics, Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim; Hajia Mustapha Amina from National Bureau of Statistics; Adeniran Danjuma from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Umar Olaitan from National Population Commission; some heads of security agencies; and statisticians who are serving across government offices in the state.

Ibrahim, in his goodwill message, urged the people to always be factual in giving information about themselves, noting that accurate data assists the government to plan for the overall development of the state and the nation at large.

Director of Census and Survey in the State Bureau of Statistics, Awotokun S. A, who keynoted the event, said statistics is key to development in any society, adding that this step will bring many advantages not only to the government but also to all business activities in Kwara.

“As it is a norm worldwide, statistics plays an indispensable role in the development of any society. GDP is one indicator that speaks about the health of a state’s economy. The government’s readiness to compile data and measure the general economic activities of the state to know the viability of the state’s economy is highly commendable,” he said, calling it another milestone in the history of the state.