Planning is central to the process of development aimed at improving the quality of life.
Posted by African Press International on March 12, 2008
Kaduna (Nigeria) – In a bid to ensure reduction of child and maternal mortality and boost women and child development, the Women Development Centre has called for the urgent establishment of a national gender data bank to aid planning and gender development.
Director General of the Centre, Dr. Aisha Usman Mohammed who disclosed this in Kaduna yesterday noted that planning is central to the process of development aimed at improving the quality of life. Speaking at a training workshop on Gender Data Generation Analysis and Management of Multi Technical Team Committee (MTT) of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) held in Kaduna, Dr. Aisha said the establishment of the gender data bank was imperative to achieve appropriate gender objectives.
She added; “The initiative for the establishment of the National Gender Data Bank was borne out of the realisation that lack of adequate data on true gender disparities as well as in the economic, social and political spheres has frequently given rise to inappropriate policies, plans and projects by government. “Planning is based on facts, knowing the picture on ground, having a clear understanding of the reality, and the only way to get the facts, ascertain and measure the extent of the problem or otherwise is through data and statistics of the situation on ground.”
Dr. Aisha noted that in constituting the Multi Technical Team Committee (MTT) to spearhead the process, they had looked at other stakeholders whose mandates have direct relevance to gender issues in the country, as membership is drawn from government agencies and line ministries, the academia, civil society groups and gender experts. She further explained that the availability of Gender Disaggregated Data is imperative in presenting a factual representation of the status and roles of women and men in the Nigerian society, adding that it would be the basis for national gender policies aimed at improving the situation of women, children and a foundation of programmes promoting sustainable development and serve as tool for evaluating policies.
Gender data bank according to her “is to provide information to various users, proactively or at their request for conceptualising, formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating development programmes in a timely manner. “Gender Data Bank draws on existing and available sex disaggregated data and gender analytical information on data collection systems.”
Published by Korir, API africanpress@getmail.no source.DailyTrust.nigeria
