By Rabiatu Ahmed (U21MM2010)
The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Professor Adamu Ahmed, has called on the Federal Government to support the funding of academic conferences organized by public universities in Nigeria.
He made this appeal during the 1st International Conference on Statistical Sciences and Data Analytics (ICSSDA 2025) held at the Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, ABU Zaria, on Tuesday, 8th July 2025.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Advancement, Research and Innovation), Professor Aliyu Rafindadi Sanusi, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that universities cannot shoulder the financial burden of hosting such academic events alone. He added that government intervention is necessary to sustain platforms where innovative ideas and research findings are shared.
In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, Professor Ibrahim Abdulkadir, described the conference as a melting pot of ideas and a forum for exploring groundbreaking innovations in statistical sciences. He noted that data analytics plays a crucial role in addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, public health, economic development, social equity, and security.
Chairman of the occasion, Professor Sahalu Balarabe Junaidu, emphasized that we are in the age where “data is the new oil.” He expressed confidence that the papers presented during the conference would highlight challenges and innovations capable of making global impact.
Earlier in his welcome address, Head of the Department of Statistics, Professor Abubakar Yahaya, said the maiden edition of the conference was not only a gathering of brilliant minds but also a fusion of innovation, collaboration, and transformation. He expressed hope that the discussions would enrich understanding, inspire partnerships, spark innovations, and influence policy and practice across various domains.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Jamilu Garba, Statistician-General of the Jigawa State Bureau of Statistics, spoke on the prospects and applications of statistics in modern governance.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Adegboye Abdulwasiu Oyetola, a Senior Biostatistician at Charles Darwin University, Australia, presented a paper on “Tackling Refusal Bias in Prevalence Estimates from National Surveys.”
Dr. Pitchaya Wiratchotisatian, from the Department of Statistics at Khon Kaen University, Thailand, delivered a presentation titled “From Risk to Response: Harnessing Statistics and Machine Learning for Better Health Outcomes.”
The conference concluded with the presentation of awards to outstanding participants and contributors.
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