Experts have called on the Nigerian government to harness social cohesion data to improve national policies and programmes, tackle development challenges, and promote national unity.
This call was made on Tuesday at a Capacity Building Workshop organised by the Africa Polling Institute (API)—an independent, non-profit opinion research think tank. The workshop was themed “The Use of Social Cohesion Data in Enhancing National Policies and Programmes and Promoting Effective Media Reportage”, and was supported by the Ford Foundation.
In his remarks, Prof. Bell Ihua, Executive Director of API, stressed the need to ensure that Nigeria’s social cohesion data is not left on the shelf but is actively used by government agencies and media practitioners.
According to him, research conducted by the Institute across the country revealed several indicators of low social cohesion, which continue to hinder development. These include declining public trust, social injustice, gender inequality, and security challenges.
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“This data needs to be integrated into the planning and implementation of public policies and programmes,” Ihua stated.
“We found that citizens have very little trust in government and public institutions. Interestingly, we also observed that Nigerians are now united in a shared struggle—this wasn’t the case before. These findings are crucial for policymakers to consider.”
From left: Executive Director, Development Specs Academy, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu; Veterinary Surgeon, Nigerian Defence Academy, Dr Elsie Onwuhafua; Chief Executive Director, Successory Nigeria Ltd., Dr Steve Ogidan; Executive Director, Africa Polling Institute (API), Prof. Bell Ihua and the Chief Executive Director, Africa Back to Basics, Dr Soji Adeniyi, during the API’s capacity building workshop for public institutions on Enhancing National Policies and Programmes through the use of Social Cohesion Data, in collaboration with Ford Foundation, in Abuja.
Dr. Soji Adeniyi, a member of API’s Board of Trustees, added that the goal of the workshop was to foster data-driven approaches to managing social cohesion across institutions.
“It’s time we moved beyond relying on perceptions alone. Scientific data gives us a clearer picture of social realities and shifts,” he said.
“We’ve been collecting this data since 2019, and it evolves every year. It’s important that government institutions use it to respond more effectively to societal needs.”
Also speaking, Dr. Steve Ogidan, CEO of Successory Nigeria Ltd, stressed the importance of inclusivity in policy formulation. He called on the government to be intentional about integrating youth, women, and marginalised groups.
He noted that performance-based budgeting could lead to better social investments and targeted interventions that foster national cohesion.
From left (sitting): Executive Director, Development Specs Academy, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu; Chief Executive Director, Africa Back to Basics, Dr Soji Adeniyi; Executive Director, Africa Polling Institute (API), Prof. Bell Ihua; Veterinary Surgeon, Nigerian Defence Academy, Dr Elsie Onwuhafua and the Chief Executive Director, Successory Nigeria Ltd., Dr Steve Ogidan and other participants during the API’s capacity building workshop for public institutions on Enhancing National Policies and Programmes through the use of Social Cohesion Data, in collaboration with Ford Foundation, in Abuja
Mrs. Amina Zemo, a participant, described the workshop as enlightening. She emphasized the need for the government to rebuild public trust by using accurate data to understand and meet the actual needs of citizens.
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Our correspondent reports that representatives from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and National Sports Commission (NSC), among others, were present at the workshop.
