Eminent statistician and Chief Lecturer, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Olusesan Olufolabo, has emphasised the importance of statistics in decision-making and highlighted the role of data in driving innovation and economic development.

Olufolabo, who disclosed this in his lecture, titled: ‘Unlocking insights: The power of statistics in today’s data-driven world,’ noted that informed decisions in various aspects of life require data analysis and statistical literacy.

He highlighted how his research contributed to the national policy on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life, which was then propagated and sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

He urged President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and members of the National Assembly to be statistically literate to make informed decisions affecting Nigerians.

The lecture underscored the crucial role of statistics in driving innovation, economic development, and various sectors of society. Attended by the Rector, Deans, Heads of Departments, and associates of Olufolabo, the lecture was the first in the Department of Statistics.

In his remarks, the Rector, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, noted that statistics is the unseen force driving everything from life-saving drug development to understanding climate change impacts in Nigeria.

Abdul said statistics had been a key driver of innovation because it provided guidance in evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation. He noted that in today’s data-driven world, statistics is not just a technical discipline, but a powerful tool used to unlock insights and shape the future.

The rector asserted that by transforming raw data into meaningful knowledge, statistics could empower them to address global challenges, to innovate across industries and improve the quality of life in general.

“The inaugural lecturer was able to show that we need statistics in all aspects of our lives, and encouraged us to embrace the use of statistics, whatever our area is.”

He, however, noted that choosing a statistical technique or tool to use in statistics has become a major problem, especially for individuals who are not well grounded in the field.

“Proven by our inaugural lecturer of today, statistics is now a cornerstone of every scientific inquiry, even in the fields of medicine, engineering, science, and social sciences; we all rely heavily on statistical phenomena,” Abdul stated.