A leading Civil Society Organizations based in Kogi State, the Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF), has admonished the State Government to prioritize data-driven development as a cornerstone for sustainable growth and effective governance.
The Executive Director,
Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF) Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
Ambassador Muraina commended the state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo for his deliberate and visionary move toward the implementation of the State’s 32-Year Development Plan which led to the three day intensive training programme for appointees and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at Abuja 2nd – 4th December, 2025.
He noted that this bold and ambitious roadmap demonstrates strategic foresight and a genuine commitment to repositioning Kogi State for inclusive prosperity, infrastructural transformation, and institutional strengthening.
“Indeed, the intentional move by the current administration to implement such a long-term development framework is both timely and commendable” he said.
According to him , the successful implementation of this ambitious plan requires not only political will but also intellectual depth, institutional coordination, and a deliberate amalgamation of credible data across sectors, noting that
development planning without comprehensive and harmonized data risks inefficiency, duplication of efforts, and misallocation of scarce resources.
“It is imperative to emphasize that Kogi State has benefitted from numerous Official Development Assistance (ODA) and donor-funded projects over the years, including interventions supported by the World Bank and other development partners, projects such as Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE-GOV), Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES), Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN), Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP) Scale-Up, Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) among others .
“Unfortunately, data from past and ongoing ODA-supported projects remain fragmented across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as among implementing partners hence, undermining the process of sector implementation plan development as a sure strategy towards the effective implementation of the Kogi State’s 32 Year Development Plan. This disjointed data ecosystem undermines transparency, coordination, and long-term impact assessment.
“Your Excellency may recall that approval was graciously granted for the establishment of an ODA Committee under this administration. Regrettably, the committee was never inaugurated and has not commenced operations. For a straightforward and ambitious administration committed to measurable progress, this delay does not reflect the standard of excellence that Your Excellency represents.
While giving recommendations
RECEF stated that:
“The ODA Committee be immediately inaugurated and made fully functional.
Competent, forward-thinking, and intellectually sound individuals be appointed in line with the ODA Policy Guide of Nigeria to drive the committee’s mandate with integrity and professionalism.
“All implementers of World Bank-assisted and other donor-funded projects in Kogi State be formally required to submit periodic data, reports, and implementation updates to the ODA Committee.
“ODA Committee Secretariat be strategically housed within the Kogi State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning to ensure institutional alignment with fiscal and development planning processes.
“Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) be integrated as key stakeholders in the entire process to strengthen accountability, transparency, community ownership, local capacity building and sustainability.
“Data-driven governance is no longer optional; it is the backbone of effective public administration in the 21st century.
“If properly coordinated, ODA data can serve as a powerful tool for monitoring progress, avoiding project duplication, optimizing resource allocation, and aligning donor interventions with the State’s 32 Year Development Plan.
“Kogi State stands at a defining moment in its development trajectory. With the right structures, coordinated data systems, and inclusive stakeholder engagement, this administration can set a new benchmark for evidence-based governance in Nigeria.
“RECEF remains committed to partnering with the Kogi State Government and other stakeholders to ensure transparency, accountability, and sustainable development outcomes for the people of Kogi State”
