AKURE — A Professor of Statistics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Barnabas Adebola, has made a compelling case for a nationwide data culture, stressing that regular and proper data collection is essential for effective governance and sustainable development.
Delivering FUTA’s 181st inaugural lecture titled “Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen: Understanding the Hide and Seek Game,” on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Professor Adebola said the dearth of quality data remains a significant barrier to strategic planning in Nigeria.
“The importance of quality data gathering using statistical methods in attaining precision and enhancing planning cannot be overstated,” he stated, warning that without a solid data foundation, national development risks becoming a game of guesswork.
He called on federal, state, and local governments to enact policies and laws that promote data integrity, and to foster collaborations between government agencies, civil society organizations, and universities for unbiased data collection and use. “There should be enabling laws to bring about strong collaborations,” he emphasized.
Adebola further proposed the establishment of regional data laboratories equipped with modern facilities for data gathering, analysis, and interpretation. According to him, accurate historical and real-time data are indispensable for forecasting and evidence-based decision-making.
In a lecture that bridged both academic rigor and practical relevance, the professor traced the roots of statistics to its Latin origin “status”, describing the discipline as both an art and science for transforming raw data into actionable knowledge. “Statistics is about data. Data can exist without statistics being computed, but statistics must have data to be computed,” he explained.
Using relatable analogies, Adebola underscored the significance of sampling in statistical science, likening it to a chef tasting a spoonful of soup or a lab scientist analyzing a drop of blood. “Sampling is a scientific method of choosing and using a representative part of a whole to seek the truth about the entire population,” he said, highlighting its ubiquitous relevance across fields such as health, agriculture, and economics.
Stressing the need for statistical literacy, particularly among the younger generation, he advised: “Every young person should endeavour to learn something about statistics as soon as they can. Ignoring this may have phenomenal consequences in the near future.” He also urged parents, mentors, and educators to encourage interest in the field.
Highlighting applications of statistical models like ratio estimation, Adebola noted their relevance in agriculture and economics, such as estimating crop yields or analyzing income-to-family-size ratios. The don, who holds fellowships and memberships in global and national statistical bodies, including the Royal Statistical Society (FRSS) and the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (CISON), concluded that statistics remains the backbone of evidence-based policy-making.
Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji, who chaired the lecture, described Professor Adebola as a beacon of academic excellence whose contributions have enriched the university’s teaching, research, and human capacity development. She lauded the lecture for bringing statistical issues to the fore, emphasizing its relevance to national discourse on planning and development.
With Nigeria grappling with inconsistent data and planning challenges, the lecture served as a timely call for stakeholders across all sectors to embrace statistical tools and culture as a means of driving inclusive and evidence-driven governance.
Congratulations, Prof. Barnabas Adebola!
Your impactful delivery of FUTA’s 181st Inaugural Lecture was truly inspiring.
Thank you for championing data culture and promoting statistical literacy among youth.
We’re proud of your achievement!
— RootedScope Media
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