Organisation unveils App to aid research, data collection

Preston Associates for International Development (PAID), a development sector research organisation has launched the “Iwadii App” to aid research, data collection, and analysis processes.

The App was launched at an event to mark the 10th year anniversary of the organisation, in Abuja.

Our correspondent reports that the term “Iwadii” is a Yoruba word that means “to find out”.

Dr Nkemdilim Ene, Chief Executive Officer, PAID, said the App was developed to aid the easy collection of data that would be helpful in enhancing development not only in Nigeria and Africa.

She said that accurate data was important to enable any government to bring about meaningful development to its people, especially meaningful development to its people, especially in the areas of health, education, gender, child and youth development, among others.

“The Iwadii App is something that we really want to bring to the world because we believe that there is not enough Nigerian or African data out there.

“Any time we want to do a study, we borrow data from other countries and the only way to do that is to start from the ground up.

“For Academia, we need to get the average user involved in research, everybody needs information to do what they are doing.

“So the generation of evidence is key to our existence, we need data for decision-making at all levels, starting from the household level, private business level, and at the national level,” she said.

According to her, gone are the days when we listen to the person that has the loudest voice, sometimes those who have access to the key decision-makers in government get to have their way.

“Their way may not be representative of what Nigerians are going through, what enables more equitable decisions to be made and better planning is access to empirical data that is collected in time.

“So what we are saying is that there are indigenous companies that know how to gather these data in the context of our knowledge of the African setting and so we are here to work with the government in achieving that,” she said.

On its achievements, Ene said that the organisation, which started from a “Kitchen Office Space” had so far been able to provide technical support to development partners as well as engaged in philanthropy activities in the country.

“We have come a long way, we started in a small converted kitchen office, but along the journey a lot of people joined us, just like a train, some people jumped in and jumped out at different times.

“But we sought to make a difference, we put value ahead of profit, for a long time we didn’t break in because we were seeking to do more than we were being paid to do.

“That came with a lot of sacrifices, but because the vision was clear, it was easy to persevere when the going was tough and now we are on the other side,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi, Chairperson of the occasion, lauded the organisation for its numerous achievements in the development space.

“The unique thing about Preston Associates is that they are African homegrown and home resourced.

“The best place to find gold is where you found it before and Africa is really the new frontier for advancement, Africa is the new bride, as we have amazing resources, not just in our mineral resources but in our human resources.

“All we need in Nigeria is the conducive environment and I would like to see reversed medical tourism, where Nigeria would be the preferred destination,” she added.

On his part, Dr Kene Mkparu, Chief Executive Officer, of KOMWORLD Cinemas, also commended the organisation for its resilience in community development initiatives in the country.

“It takes resilience to leave the big city to do business and provide services to people in rural communities.

“A lot of people give up or focus on the money but refuse to focus on the developmental aspect of what they do and have been quite resilient in the last ten years,” he said.

A staff of the organisation, Mrs Abimbola Daramola, Grand Compliance and Human Resources Manager, said that for any nation to develop properly there was a need for information and accurate data.

“When we mention figures in Preston, it is backed by data and also our goal is to prove that Nigerians have integrity, we don’t cut corners.

“Part of our goal is to provide those facts that can be used to make informed decisions as a nation, and on how to go forward,” she added.

Our correspondent reports that the theme of the event is “Built to Outlast – Growing Resilient African Businesses to Compete Globally”.