Today, H.E. the Vice President of The Gambia, Mohammed BS Jallow, officially opened the 18th Session of the Committee of Directors General of National Statistics Offices (CoDGs) in Banjul.
Speaking on behalf of H.E. President Adama Barrow, the VP welcomed delegates and emphasized the critical role of modernizing Africa’s data systems to support education and sustainable development. As a former planner, statistician, educationist, and member of the National Statistics Council of The #Gambia, the VP expressed great pride in opening this significant gathering.
The session is centered on the theme: “Contribution of statistics to ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’”
This year’s discussions align with the African Union Agenda 2063 and SDG 4, focusing on education and statistical innovation. The VP highlighted key priorities:
✅ Investing in digital data collection methods
✅ Strengthening South-South cooperation
✅ Addressing disparities in statistical frameworks
✅ Producing reliable, high-quality data for informed policy-making
The Gambia’s achievements in digitalizing its national statistical systems, supported by partners like the UNDP and World Bank, were also showcased as a model for regional collaboration.
As Africa strives to build resilient education systems and achieve its development goals, this session serves as a vital platform for harmonizing statistics and strengthening data ecosystems across the continent.
