Edo recruits 1,200 enumerators for socio- economic data collection

EDO State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, engaged no fewer than 1,200 enumerators to capture vital socio- economic information to plan a new Edo State in the next few years.

Obaseki, who disclosed this during the unveiling of Data To Make Edo Great Again ( MEGA) in Benin City, said the enumerators would capture information required for successful transformation of the state.

He said the enumerators would build a social register of most vulnerable persons in communities to ensure that they get government’s support on time.

“No meaningful development can occur without useful information and data. Data so collected would be used to update government’s database and identify gaps and areas that require intervention from the people’s perspective.

“In Nigeria there is fundamental lack of necessary data that local, state and federal governments can use to build long- term solutions to the problems confronting their states or communities,” he stated.

He said the field workers would visit every home in the pilot council areas and use mobile data capturing devices to collect information from people living in council areas.

“You are undertaking a unique project. It has not happened in this country, as far as I know that a first batch of 1,200 people are trained to go from door- todoor in communities to obtain information of our people.

“This is one of the legacies my administration promised to leave behind during our second term inauguration. The project, which will be Edo 2050 is a detailed regional urban social plan of what Edo will look like in 30 years,” he stated.

He urged residents to cooperate with government and the enumerators to get vital information and data for development of the state.

Earlier, the project manager, Isa Aghariagbonse Ojo, said data generated from the exercise would be reliable, as the enumerators had been trained.

He listed those that would be involved in the data collection include 1,200 enumerators, 30 data verification officers, 20 Geographic Information System ( GIS) professionals, 10 Information Technology ( IT) and database administrators, five communication officers and five administrative support staff.