Reimagining Governance through Interoperable Data Systems
On May 28, Dataphyte Foundation, in partnership with OGP Nigeria, hosted a Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Advancing Data Interoperability for Citizen Participation and Inclusive Governance.
The event gathered public institutions, civil society, media, and tech experts to ask: how can our data systems be not only smarter, but also more human-centred?
Discussions spanned budget transparency, inclusive access to justice, GovTech innovations, and data for public service delivery. One truth echoed in every session: working in silos is no longer sustainable.
Giving the keynote, Soji Apampa captured the heart of the conversation: “We’re digitising bureaucracy, but not reimagining service delivery.”
Making Climate Data Real: Climate Data Lab Workshop
On May 29 and 30, Dataphyte hosted the Climate Data Lab Workshop, a two-day deep dive into what it really means to understand climate change through data, and more importantly, through people.
We started with a simple but powerful reminder from Joshua Olufemi:
"Climate change is not just a story. It’s something that affects us all."
Joshua Olufemi also stressed: “Beyond the science, the numbers, the charts, climate change is about lives. It’s about housing when floods hit. It’s about food when the rains fail. It’s about education, health, and water. In short, it’s about development. And we can’t afford to separate the two.”
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged with data tools and storytelling frameworks to uncover the everyday realities of climate impact, not just to gather facts, but to ask better questions, draw deeper connections, and reframe how we think and talk about the climate crisis.
The training ended with a hands-on session that brought everything together. Participants practiced linking data to real-world experiences in a way that made sense: clear, grounded, and useful.
Tax Reforms, Explained: X Spaces Conversation
On May 14, Dataphyte hosted an X (Twitter) Spaces discussion on “Tax Reform Bills: Tax Waivers and Other Tax Questions.”
The conversation broke down Nigeria’s recent tax reforms, how they affect public revenue, governance, and the daily lives of Nigerians. It was a timely, transparent conversation on why clarity in tax administration is essential for accountability.
Empowering Students with Civic Tech Tools
Dataphyte held a one-day data training workshop for the Nigerian Economics Students’ Association at the University of Abuja, focusing on how to apply economic data in policymaking and forecasting.
The session, which took place on May 31st, 2025, at the Dataphyte Hub in Abuja, hosted 15 students and featured both theoretical instruction and hands-on training.
Ms. Khadija Kareem, Ag Head of Policy Research Communications, led a session on the importance of data in shaping economic policy and forecasting trends, highlighting how timely and disaggregated data can guide sound policies.
Mr. Kehinde Ogunyale, coordinator of Dataphyte Academy, conducted a practical session using Excel and open-source datasets to teach forecasting techniques and real-world data interpretation.
Paul Akinwumi, Digital Innovation Officer, introduced Dataphyte’s AI tools, Goloka for primary data collection and Nubia for automated research writing, highlighting their usefulness in streamlining economic research workflows.
The training ended with inspiring remarks from CEO Joshua Olufemi, who urged students to build relevant data skills for the future and praised their potential to drive transformative change in Nigeria’s development landscape.
Dataphyte Insights: A Month of Knowledge Sharing
As always, our insight-driven publications kept the conversation going beyond the room.
Through Dataphyte newsletters, Pocket Science, SenorRita, Marina and Maitama, and Data Dive, unpacked key themes:
This month’s Pocket Science series explored how Nigerians are navigating economic pressures in everyday life. One edition examined the rise of online sports betting as a survival strategy. Another questioned whether monthly or yearly rent payments offer more relief or risk for tenants and landlords alike. An article also examined how Nigerians are being priced out of healthy eating, and the month concluded with a data-driven piece on Nigeria’s per capita electricity consumption, highlighting its close connection to the country’s persistent power crisis.
SenorRita kicked off the month of May with an article on The Hidden Costs of Unhygienic Menstrual Care. This was followed by an article titled Gender Bias in Invention Endangers Women's Lives, which exposed how male-dominated innovation continues to overlook women’s specific health and safety needs. The newsletter also explored the persistent gap in financial inclusion, highlighting how Women Remain More Financially Excluded than Men in Nigeria.
Marina and Maitama explored a range of economic trends and policy developments throughout May. It explored how Nigerians are not cutting back on data usage despite recent tariff hikes, and covered President Bola Tinubu’s new economic directive aimed at revitalising domestic industries and promoting national self-reliance. Another edition analyzed a 29.5% growth in Nigeria’s mutual funds market during the first four months of 2025, while also questioning: As oil falters, can Nigeria’s non-oil export sector fill the gap? Another edition further examined the Nigerian Exchange’s performance in early 2025 and critically assessed whether tax incentives are truly a path to growth or a costly economic gamble.
Data Dives began the month with a special feature marking two important global observances, Workers’ Day and World Press Freedom Day, spotlighting the intersection of labour rights and media freedom in Nigeria. The newsletters then rolled out three in-depth editions assessing key sectors in President Tinubu’s second year in office. One examined the direction and implications of his foreign policy agenda. Another provided a deep dive into Nigeria’s fiscal future, particularly in light of the 2024 tax reform bill. The final piece focused on Nigeria’s mounting debt and persistent budget deficit.
A number of data cards were also published to help everyday Nigerians make sense of the big numbers in the simplest form.
Looking Ahead
May reminded us that data is not just about technology, it’s about people. Whether we’re talking climate, taxes, or governance, what matters most is how the information serves those most affected.
At Dataphyte, we’ll keep asking the hard questions and building tools, platforms, and communities that push for better answers.
And You?
None of this happens without you, our team, partners, supporters, and audience. Thank you for another month of dedication and dialogue.
Let’s meet in June, with new energy, sharper questions, and bolder ideas.
.jpg)
