The Renaissance Care and Empowerment Foundation (RECEF), a leading civil society organizations in Kogi State and beyond, has tasked Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on the urgent need to prioritize data-driven development as a cornerstone for sustainable growth and effective governance.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Wednesday, RECEF counseled Kogi state government that development does not happen by accident.
Amb. Muraina emphasized that data-driven governance is no longer optional as it is the backbone of effective public administration in the 21st century.
The CSO noted that Kogi state stands at a defining moment in its development trajectory, adding that with the right structures, coordinated data systems, and inclusive stakeholder engagement, the administration can set a new benchmark for evidence-based governance in Nigeria.
“We commend His Excellency for his deliberate and visionary move toward the implementation of the State’s 32-Year Development Plan which led to the three (3) day intensive training programme for appointees and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at Abuja 2nd – 4th December, 2025. 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.
“However, 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. 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) etc. 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,” the statement read.
RECEF urged the state government to inaugurate the ODA Committee without further delay and make it 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,” Amb. Muraina said.
RECEF Executive Director said 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.
He assured that 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 the state.
