The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (Nisr) has unveiled the second national strategy for the development of statistics that seeks to consolidate achievements made over the past five years, Yusufu Murangwa, the Nisr director general, has said. 

Murangwa, who was addressing statisticians, researchers and experts during celebrations to mark the 2014 African Statistics Day on Wednesday in Kigali, said the main objective of the strategy is to strengthen civil registration system, administrative records, improving the quality and dissemination of statistics, as well as improve public statistical literacy.

"We also want to improve on resource mobilisation and build strategic partnerships that will help build our capacities and improve statistical advocacy,” Murangwa, said.

The first national strategy for development of statistics ended in June 2014.

The new strategy was approved by the Cabinet on September 10, 2014 to serve as a coordination tool for the production, dissemination and accessibility of statistics for next five years – 2014/15-2018/19.

The African statistical community celebrates the African Statistics Day every year in November with the objective of raising public awareness about the importance of statistics in the economic and social development of the continent.

This year’s event was held under the theme, "Open data for accountability and inclusiveness” and was devoted to the importance of open data for evidence-based decision making in economic management, poverty reduction and all aspects of socio-economic development processes.

Meanwhile, the winners of the 2014 graphic competitions were awarded, with Carnegie Mellon University students emerging the overall winners and Vision Statisticians from University of Rwanda’s College of Business and Economics in Huye came in second position. The overall winners went home with three laptops while their counterparts got three iPhones.

John Mutakubwa, a student from Carnegie Mellon University and one of the winners, said the competition was a big inspiration.

"It’s a foundation of becoming one of greatest statisticians; most importantly, it was an opportunity for us to contribute to national statistics,” he said.