By Mustapha Salisu
HOTPEN – A Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, has completed its 2nd phase of Data Analysis Training using STATA.
STATA which is a general-purpose statistical software package that is used by researchers in many fields for data manipulation, visualization, statistics and automated reporting.
In his remarks during the closing ceremony at Hall B, CITAD Office in Kano, the Executive Director of CITAD, Engr, Y.Z Ya’u who was represented by the centre’s Program Officer on Digital Rights, Ali Sabo explained that, the program which lasted for 3 days exposed participants on utilization of data for evidence-based policies and research purposes using the STATA software.
Adding that “when we advertised for entries into the training, we received over 1000 subscribers after 24 hours”
“We had to screen and select 250 participants which are done in batches of 50. First Batch was a success and today we are rounding up the 2nd Batch” Ali Sabo noted.
On his part, the facilitator of the training, Dr. Muhammad Aliyu and also a lecturer with the Department of Economics from Bayero University Kano, said participants were pulled from the Academia, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Government Agencies.
“We took the participants through the rudiments of using STATA for Data Entry, Data Cleansing and Data Analysis” He added.
The facilitator stressed that, most universities teach Statistics in theoretical form while the training exposed the participants to the practical aspects of statistics using computers and software packages.
Participants who spoke at the event, Gambo Umar Baita from Centre of Management Development, Ministry of Budget and National Planning said he has received various training on Data Analysis but STATA is entirely flexible and user friendly.
Another Participant, Uchechukwu Goodness, an MSc student from the Faculty of Sociology, Bayero University, Kano said,
As a student of research, the training using STATA has given me a broader length on how to carry out my Data Analysis when I go back to school”
While appreciating CITAD for giving them the opportunity to participate in the program, the participants promised to step down the training to their respective organisations and students.
HOTPEN reports that distribution of certificates to the participants and a group photograph sums up the highlights of the closing ceremony.
