The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to placing data, research and evidence at the centre of policy formulation and programme implementation, as the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA) agreed to deepen collaboration in strengthening evidence-based interventions for women, children, families and vulnerable groups across Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, stated this while receiving the Regional Director for West Africa, Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA), Mr. Emeka Eluemunor on a courtesy visit to her office in Abuja.
The Minister described reliable data as the foundation of effective governance, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is anchored on measurable results, accountability and impactful service delivery to Nigerians.
She stressed that while government is increasingly prepared to take bold decisions to address national development challenges, such decisions must be guided by credible evidence, sound research and accurate data that reflect realities at the grassroots.
“Government is ready to act. Our responsibility is to ensure that those actions are guided by credible evidence and supported by quality research. Data must move beyond figures on paper to becoming the basis for decisions that improve the lives of our people,” the Minister said.
Hajiya Imaan observed that one of the greatest challenges confronting public institutions is fragmented reporting, which often fails to demonstrate the true impact of government interventions despite measurable progress on the ground.
She cited instances where advocacy and empowerment programmes have produced positive outcomes but were not adequately reflected because available data had not been properly analysed or connected to policy results.
“Sometimes we are achieving results, yet our reports fail to tell the complete story because we are not connecting the dots. We need credible data that provides clear evidence of impact, strengthens accountability and inspires better policymaking,” she stated.
The Minister emphasized that evidence-based governance requires strong monitoring, evaluation, learning and adaptive management systems capable of generating practical knowledge for continuous improvement.
According to her, the Ministry is committed to strengthening its internal capacities in data collection, research, analysis and reporting to ensure that every programme delivers measurable outcomes for Nigerian women, children and families.
“Learning, adapting and reporting all require quality evidence. But beyond reporting, what matters most is how we use what we have learned to make better decisions. Evidence must influence policy, strengthen implementation and improve service delivery,” she added.
She further explained that credible national statistics play a vital role in attracting government attention and mobilizing greater investment in critical sectors.
Citing her experience, the Minister noted that ministry’s data highlighting Nigeria’s large child population and the growing needs of women and families reinforces the importance of sustained government interventions and institutional support.
She assured the delegation of the Ministry’s readiness to provide the enabling environment for technical collaboration, while encouraging Innovation for Poverty Action to become an integral partner in strengthening evidence-based governance.
“Please see yourselves as part of this Ministry. The work we are doing is too important for us to work in isolation. Together, we can build stronger institutions, strengthen technical capacity and ensure that evidence consistently drives national development decisions,” she affirmed.
Earlier, the Regional Director for West Africa, Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA), Mr. Emeka Eluemunor, commended the Minister for demonstrating exceptional commitment to evidence-based leadership and institutional reforms.
He noted that effective policymaking depends on credible data, continuous learning, rigorous research and strong technical capacity, assuring the Ministry of their readiness to support its efforts in strengthening monitoring, evaluation, data systems, policy analysis and institutional capacity development.
Mr. Eluemunor stated that quality evidence enables governments not only to measure progress but also to understand why programmes succeed or fail, thereby improving future interventions and maximizing development outcomes.
He reaffirmed IPA’s commitment to supporting the Ministry in building sustainable systems that will promote research-driven policymaking and improve the effectiveness of programmes targeting women, children, families and vulnerable populations.
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau Mnipr
Head, Press and Public Relations Dept. (FMWASD)
