The Delta State Government has commenced a training workshop for selected civil servants to enhance their data analysis and visualisation skills, aimed at improving service delivery and promoting evidence-based governance.
The programme, which began on Monday in Asaba, was organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning in collaboration with Universal Investment and Development Company (UIDC) Limited.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, said the initiative was designed to equip workers with modern digital skills required to process and interpret data for informed decision-making.
“Data is information, data is life, and data is the future,” Ekedayen said. “With the right tools, decisions can be made faster and more accurately, even by non-technical users.”
Represented by the State Director of Statistics, Ms Nkechi Maduemezia, the commissioner described data as “the new oil” driving strategic development. He encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions and embrace digital tools to enhance their support for decision-makers.
In his remarks, the Head of Corporate Strategy and Planning at UIDC, Dr Timothy Igbinosa, said the training was part of efforts to help public servants adapt to digital transformation. Represented by Mr.Godwin Mukoro, he noted, “We live in a digital age — phones, vehicles, and the internet are all powered by technology. We must intentionally accelerate our pace to catch up with global advancement.”
Dr. Igbinosa explained that the workshop was designed to bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern data analysis methods. He identified three categories of civil servants in the digital era — those with little or no knowledge of digital tools, those who possess the knowledge but fail to apply it, and the few who use technology effectively. He urged participants to “think outside the box and drive innovation” in their respective offices.
Also speaking, a capital market consultant, Mr. Gbe Lewis, reaffirmed UIDC’s commitment to supporting the state through capacity-building initiatives. “We are proud to support this workshop because data analysis and visualisation are essential for growth and efficiency,” he said.
Other speakers included Mr. Felix Ofobruku, who presented a paper on Enhancing Data Management in the Public Service, and Mr. Valentine Dafe, who spoke on ICT Essentials and Windows Skills.
The training featured practical sessions on data handling, analysis, and visualisation tools to enable participants to better support government planning and policy formulation through evidence-based decision-making.
The workshop forms part of the state government’s commitment to promoting a smarter, more efficient, and data-driven public service, in line with the MORE Agenda.
