FAO donates ICT equipment, tools for agricultural data gathering to LASG

 FAO donates ICT equipment, tools for agricultural data gathering to LASG

Equipment

By Kazeem Akande

 (NAN) The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, has handed over ICT equipment to Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) to ensure accurate data generation towards planning and execution of agricultural policies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LSADA is an Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture that  involve in the management of data and statistics relating to agriculture, food security and nutrition. 

Dr Fred Kafeero, the United Nations FAO Representative, in his remarks said that the donations was made to LSADA as part of activities to commemorate the 2021 World Food Day.

NAN reports the 2021 World Food Day themed "Our action are our future, Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life". 

Kafeero represented by Mrs Adeola Akinrinlola, the FAO Programme Officer said that data and statistics were crucial in the execution of agricultural programmes.

According to him, data and statistics are very key in the monitoring and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 

Akinrinola added that data and statistics play major roles in providing clear, objective, and numerical evidence on the level of achievement of programmes as it related to the agricultural sector. 

"UN places the highest importance on data and statistics when it comes to monitoring of the SDGs implementation.

"Hence the needs to reinforce the competencies of the statistics unit of the participating institutions and departments to generate, analyse, store and disseminate credible and timely data and information for policy planning and tracking the SDGs. 

"As part of the strategy to support the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to strengthen its data and statistical systems, FAO launched a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP)", he added.

She also said that FAO in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) recently trained about 160 staff across the country.

According to him, the training include Lagos State, being part of the strategies to equip statistics experts with appropriate knowledge and skills required to effectively discharge their duties as expected of them. 

Akinrinola commended the state government through the Ministry of Agriculture and other Ministry, Departmental and Agencies (MDAs) in the state for extending their commitment and collaboration in the implementation of the project.

She however, expressed the belief that the project would not only benefit the MDAs involved, but could also be replicated in the other departments, agencies to serve the interest of other data users in the country.  

Dr Olalekan Pereira-Sheteolu, the Programme Manager LSADA responding, on behalf of the State Government, thanked FAO for its inestimable support and good gesture towards making Lagos an enviable State. 

He however assured FAO of the outstanding results the donation would yield.

NAN reports the ICT equipment handed over include desktop computers, tablets, printers, local area network equipment, memory cards, internet modems, monitors, projectors, memory cards and presentation pens, among others. (NAN)

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