FG Endorses Sustainable, Self-funding Database for ECOWAS Region

By Ndubuisi Francis and UdoraOrizu in Abuja

The federal government has commended the drive by the West Africa Quality System Programme (WAQSP) to establish a database on quality and industry within the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) region, noting thatNigeria appreciates the import of quality and industrial database and the need to set up a sustainable and self-funding one.
The WASQP-driven database is mainly for economic operators in the region, and would provide concrete answers in response to the many requests for statistical data in the region.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. OkechukwuEnelamah, who  spoke in Abuja at the regional information workshop for the validation of the draft framework document for the implementation of theEcowas Quality and Industry Database,expressed delight at the technical validation meeting of the framework document for the establishment of the ECOWAS  quality and industry database.
Represented by  the Director of industry, Dr. Francis Alanene,  the minister noted that the importance of database to industrialisation cannot be over-emphasised, adding database assists in monitoring and assessing productivity performance as well as provides a guide for policy making.

According to him, database enhances the quality and consistency of the industrial statistics so as to provide meaningful input for assuring productivity and industrial performance, stressing that database has created a completely new dimension of growth in the world.
Enelamah noted that the new initiative to establish ECOWAS quality and industrial database was  a welcome development in the region, pointing out that by accurately recording industrial data, updating and tracking such data on an efficient and regular basis, nations would have the opportunity to address their industrial challenges on one hand and still make use of the immense potential offered by the sector.
He stated that the statistical information generated would ever be useful by a wide range of users, including national governments, international development partners, academic research institutions and the business community.

This tool, according to him, would be helpful in strengthening technical capacity for conducting industrial surveys, maintaining, updating business registers and short-term statistical indicators and carry out data analysis of industrial performance.
Enelamah believes that at the end of the workshop, the document would be a veritable tool for industry development, while drive will definitely transform the economy of the region and reposition the industrial sector of each member-state.
Also speaking at the event, the representative of European Union (EU) Delegation in Nigeria to ECOWAS, Mr. Jens Hoegel, who is also the  First Counsellor and Head of Health Nutrition and Resilience Section explained that the event was part of WASQP, which is funded to the tune of 12 million euros by the EU  with the aim to set up a regional quality infrastructure

He added that the project was well aligned with the ECOWAS industrial development plan and the efforts to improve the overall competitiveness of West Africa and requires a strong collaboration with the private sector in the region.
WAQSP, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO), is funded by the EU.
The programme supports the implementation of the ECOWAS regional quality policy with the aim to “establish a framework for the development and exploitation of appropriate, relevant, effective and efficient quality infrastructures, to facilitate intra-regional and international trade, protect the consumer and environment and promote sustainable economic development”.

Within this framework, the WAQSP plans, among others, to establish a database on quality and industry within the ECOWAS region. This database is mainly for economic operators in the region. It will provide concrete answers in response to the many requests for statistical data.