Professor Sidney Iheanyi Onyeagu of the Department of Statistics Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, was elected the 9th President of the Nigerian Statistical Association, in the just concluded 40th Annual Conference of the Association at the International Conference Centre, Central Business Area Abuja, on the 9th of September, 2016. The event started with a pre-conference workshop titled: “Demographic Data analysis” on the 5th and 6th of September, 2016 and it was preceded by the Conference titled: “National Population Statistics and Sustainable Development” from 7th to 9th of September, 2016.
Others elected with Prof. Onyeagu are Dr. Godday Ebuh of Central Bank of Nigeria as 1st Vice President, Dr. Olubusoye Olunsanya of the Department of Statistics University of Ibadan as the 2nd Vice-President, Mr. Arowolo Olatunji of Lagos State Polytechnic as the National Secretary, Mr. Charles Aronu of the Department of Statistics Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University Uli as the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Olaitan Olasunkanmi of the Central Bank of Nigeria as the Financial Secretary, Mrs. Felicia Obikudu of National Bureau of Statistics as Treasurer, Mr. Bright Ajibade of Petroleum Training Institute Warri as the Business Manager, Prof. Gulumbe Shehu of Federal University Benni-Kebbi and Elder Umanah Efiong of New South Design Company Ltd as Council Member 1 and 2 respectively.
The Nigerian Statistical Association is a galaxy of Professional Statisticians, founded in 1978 as a non-profit making professional body comprising of Statisticians, Economists, Planners, Demographers, Analysis and Corporate organizations with interest in Statistics. The Association engages in generating interest in statistics, professional development retraining of users and producers of statistics, providing sound information base to enhance policy formulation and strategic planning in the public sector of the national economy. The association has Chapters in all the States of the Federation and Abuja. Total membership stands at about 2000. There are three classes of membership, viz: Fellows, Members and Students members. The Association wants to transit to CISON (Chartered Institute of Statistician of Nigeria). The bill has been passed by the National Assembly, waiting for endorsement by the President.
In what the new President called: “My Transformation Blueprint” Prof. Onyeagu who had his BSc. (Statistics) from Obafemi Awolowo University, MSc. (Statistics) from Ahmadu Bello University and PhD (Statistics) from University of Ilorin said he will re-introduce the teaching of Statistics in Secondary Schools. The Association under him will commission some professors of Statistics who will develop Statistics Curriculum for that level and write six volumes of NSA Statistics for JSS and SS3. He pledged to increase the membership strength of the association, by recognizing and working with State chapter Chairmen who will be given mandate to register at least 20 new members every year. He promised to commission some professors to write tertiary institution text books and also put the NSA Journal online. Other items in his agenda include; proposing to the Council to review all dues downwards, continue efforts made by the former Council to transit NSA to CISON, working towards seeing that the NSA house in Abuja is completed, partner with donor agencies on statistical development and capacity building, working with Apex agencies, such as, National Bureau of Statistics to strengthen them in terms of comprehensive data production, help to strengthen data production across the three levels of government, working towards ensuring that all “States” fully establish their State Bureau of Statistics. Finally Prof. Onyeagu promised to work towards internationally recognized open data system.
