Harnessing Data for Transformative Governance: Insights from Clickon Kaduna 2nd Guest Lecture Series

"Data will talk to you if you're willing to listen." - Jim Bergeson 

On February 15, 2024, I had the privilege of attending the 2nd Guest Lecture Series organized by Click-On Kaduna for the 3.0 DSFP Fellows. The Guest Lecture featured two main speakers: Honorable Muktar Ahmed, the Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission, and Hajjiya Umma K. Ahmed, the Honorable Commissioner for the State Ministry of Health in Kaduna State.

The first speaker, Honorable Commissioner Muktar Ahmed, spoke on "Transforming Healthcare Through Data-Driven Budgeting," while Hajjiya Umma Ahmed, represented by Mr. Sunday, spoke on "Advancing Healthcare Through Data-Driven Decision Making."

 As a Data Science enthusiast, we did not confine our scope to the four corners of our classroom; we also learned about governance and the powerful influence that clean and accurate data can have on evidence-based decision-making. The power of data enables governments to strategize, carefully analyze their scale of preferences, and allocate resources only where there is a high priority of needs over wants.

For instance, the Kaduna State Budget for the year 2024, titled "Budget of Rural Transformation for Inclusive Development," proposes N318.8 billion for capital expenditure and N139.4 billion for recurrent expenditure. The state government proposes to allocate N115.4 billion (25.19%) to education, N71.6 billion (15.63%) to health, and N93.5 billion (20.42%) for social investment programs. When summed up with the social investment budget, education, health, and social investment programs account for about 40% of the budget.

The Kaduna State government's budget is a testimony to the belief that "education is power and health is wealth." This is made possible as a result of the powerful, clean, and accurate data available to the government.

We all know that investing in human capital is a cornerstone of economic growth and development. It enhances individuals' skills, knowledge, and health, leading to increased productivity, innovation, and earnings potential. By prioritizing education, training, and healthcare, societies can foster a more skilled and adaptable workforce, reduce poverty, and create opportunities for upward mobility, ultimately driving sustainable economic progress and social well-being.