Group picture of government ministers, diplomats and officials of the NIS
By Richard Nde Lajong
The National Institute of Statistics, NIS, on Thursday, April 23 celebrated 25 years of data-driven development in Cameroon. The event at the Yaounde Conference Centre was under the patronage of President Paul Biya who was represented by the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousman Mey.
The celebration revolved around the theme; “ NIS, 25 years of commitment in supporting Cameroon’s march towards emergence: achievements to date, digital transformation, and the modernisation agenda ahead.”
Speaking in his capacity as personal representative of the Head of State, Minister Alamine Mey conveyed a special message, which highlights the president’s constant support and commitment towards developing a very strong, robust and reliable National Institute of Statistics in Cameroon that can be depended on at international levels. According to him, such a reliable statistics is critical for programming, planning and resource allocation.
He used the occasion to pay tributes to some of the staff (active and retirees) who have been very instrumental in introducing the necessary data and disseminating them for the public for over 25 years.
Minister Mey commended all what has been done so far especially in the of the construction of the magnificent building of the National Institute of Statistics. He enjoined the staff to be more committed towards better results that will also reflect the quality of their building.
He reiterated that statistics is important for our National Development Strategy (NDS), for the private section decision making and for the public to understand what is happening in the economy, in the social environment, and in respect to our social development process and all these can only be captured through statistics.
As the NIS celebrates 25 years of success, Minister Mey then projected that the next 25 years will be celebrated with more commitments through supports, mobilizing finances and the private sector, technical and development partners to rally behind the institution so that the next 25 years will see a stronger institution and achieved greater performance that will contribute to making Cameroon an emerging country by 2035.
Attended by several members of government and diplomats, the Director General of the NIS, Joseph Tedoy in an earlier address said the anniversary does not only celebrate 25 years of existence and honours its institutional legacy, but also affirms its ambition to position itself as a modern, innovative institution that is fully aligned with Cameroon’s emergence agenda. The Director General noted that beyond the production of statistics, the NIS also plays a vital role in the dissemination of such statistics, which must be seen in producing quality data. Noting that statistics is for public consumption, Tedou said it is incumbent for NIS to provide the government and public with reliable and accessible statistics that builds trust on data.
The Director General also noted that since the establishment of the NIS, they have consistently supported the major orientations of Cameroon’s economic and social policy. They have contributed to equipping the country with a reliable information base, essential for the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies.
With the digital transformation, NIS has also responded to global changes, characterized by the rise of digital technologies and the exponential growth of data, NIS is also firmly engaged in a process of digital transformation. These are structured through modernization of data collection tools, particularly through mobile technologies, integration of innovative data sources, development of accessible and interactive digital dissemination platforms and strengthening of advanced analytical capacities including Artificial Intelligence and data science.
A keynote speaker during the celebration was Prof Samuel Kobina Annim, who is Director of the African Centre for Statistics (UNECA). His expose was on the theme; “A robust national statistical system in the face of institutional technical and technological transformations: the necessary adjustments to better prepare for the future.” He expounded that the landscape is now embedding statistics with policy influence. He highlighted the need to encourage the public to appreciate the national statistical system.
Prof Annim noted the importance of independence of the national statistical system and insisted that it must contribute to the economic emergence agenda of Cameroon.
Open Door Day
The celebration was preceded by an Open Door Day at the premises of the NIS in Yaounde. It brought together students, researchers, public administrators, local authorities, private sector actors, civil society actors and the general public to be briefed on statistical information by promoting access, understanding and appropriation of data by all stakeholders. The Open Door Day was also an opportunity to increase public awareness of NIS’s missions, showcase statistical output, promote data literacy and strengthen engagement.
The event featured activities such as thematic exhibitions, practical demonstrations, educational workshops, expert interactions and innovation showcases.
The 25th anniversary of the NIS ended with an international scientific symposium that brought together several speakers to talk on different topics. The day concluded with awards and cutting of the anniversary cake by the Head of State’s personal representative, Minister Alamine Ousman Mey.
