Lagos launches Open Data Agenda “EKO 360

Lagos State government is set to launch its advanced open data digitization programme tagged “EKO 360” very soon.

This was disclosed by the State Honourable commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Samuel Egube during the annual ministerial press briefing to commemorate the second year of Babajide Sanwoolu administration in the State.

He said, the Lagos State Open Data Agenda, The project tagged ‘‘EKO 360’’ is a two year digitalization programme, which commenced 1st November, 2019 with support in three COFOG (Health, Education & Economic Affairs) sectors from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/Data Science Nigeria (BMGF/DSN) which is meant to strengthen the Lagos Bureau of Statistics.

Egube said the Ministry, through its Lagos Bureau of Statistics (LBS) exhibited her EKO 360 Open Data Project at the Art of Technology (AoT) Lagos 2.0 conference, showcasing the dummy of the Public Facing Portal and the Analytical Framework, which will afford the general public access to Lagos State specific data in a richer, faster and timely manner. Adding that the project is presently in the testing stage of the developed data collection app that is meant to automate the data collection of the State administrative data management system. ‘ This project focuses on historical aggregation of Lagos data, pattern forecasting based on organized insights from the past, Real time data collection with the EKO360 Mobile App, Derived Data generation that combines data from different sources to create new and meaningful data, provision of contextual and geospatial insights from Lagos Spatial Data, on-the-go access and usage through a simple presentation interface for all smart devices on the EKO360 website which will afford the general populace access to Lagos data and insights in a self-service format that assures of ease of usage and convenience.’

While reeling out other achievements of his ministry within the last two years, he pointed to two major state survey also by LBS, which are the Poverty Head Counts survey and Household survey across the 57 Local Governments/ Local Council Development Areas between August and November 2020.

The above surveys provided government feedbacks and insights from Lagosians and serve as validated facts and figures that further guide government interventions.

Meanwhile Egube has said that the Economic Development Policy of the State Government which was guided by the State Development Plan (2012-2025), has now been improved on, making it a thirty Year Development Plan (2021-2051). This new perspective plan is necessary so as to “Encourage Citizens Participation” (Build Team Lagos), “Develop our people to drive productivity and protect the vulnerable” (Building our Future), Drive Lagos readiness and openness for Business (Building Our Economy), Optimizing relevant infrastructure to support our growth” (Building Our 21st Century Mega-City) and “Engaging intergovernmental Partnership”, all these aimed at improving the quality of lives of Lagosians”.

The LSDP sits at the apex of the Planning and Budgetary system of the State. The document provides overall direction for the growth and development of Lagos State. It also provides a framework through which all sectors of the economy – public, private and civil society – can direct their energies and contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of people in the State and it is intended to drive and guide all processes.

As a planning document, it acts as a guide for all MDAs as they develop their sector policies, strategies, programmes and projects in order to reflect the vision of the State.

Furthermore, as part of the effort of the Administration to ensure performance in all its projects and programmes, the State Executive Council (EXCO) approved the implementation of the T.H.E.M.E.S. Peer Review Mechanism (TPRM) to all MDAs as a self-Assessment programme.

Sikiru Olusesi Azeez

Assistant Director Public Affairs

Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.