Janneh among first recipients of the African Statistics Award

21 January 2008 (ECA) - United Nations Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, was among the first recipients of StatCom Africa's African Statistics Award, in recognition of his contribution to the development of statistics on the continent. The awards were given during the opening of the first meeting of the Statistical Commission for Africa (StatCom-Africa) on Monday 21 January at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In brief citation before presenting the award on behalf of the African statistical community, Palil Lehohla, the Statistician General of South Africa, noted that ECA had historically played an important role in the development of statistics on the continent, and cited the example of the African Household Survey Capability Programme, which was launched in 1978 and played a critical role in capacity building in African countries. “That was the hay day for statistics in Africa and at ECA,” Lehohla said.

He then noted that statistics went into a period of decline both in Africa and at ECA due to many reasons, but commended Janneh seizing the mantle of leadership and re-establishing a statistics division at ECA. “Janneh has been playing critical role in statistics renaissance in Africa, advocating for statistics as a key development concern and nurturing ECA's African Centre for Statistics to become a centre of excellence” he said.

Other recipients of the award are:

Julien Augustin Komla Amegandjin , an international statistical consultant with 39 years experience. He has worked with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, and published extensively in the fields of census and surveys, sampling and its applications, social statistics and statistical organisation.

Oladejo Oyeleke Ajayi , also an international statistical consultant with 39 years of experience. His previous positions include director general of the federal office of statistics in Nigeria. He has published widely in the fields of census and surveys, organisation and management, social statistics and statistical organisation.

Kweku Twum deGraft-Johnson , who previously served as the deputy and then acting government statistician of the central bureau of statistics in Ghana, and professor at the Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana. He was also chief ECA's statistical division.

Lamine Diop , an international statistical consultant with vast experience in statistical training, organisation and management, and in statistical governance. He previously served as director of national statistics in Senegal and director general of AFRISTAT.

Pali Jabo Lehohla , the statistician general of South Africa and vice-chair of the Bureau of the United Nations Statistical Commission and co-chair of the PARIS21 Steering Committee. Under his leadership, several initiatives have been launched, including the African Symposium on Statistical Development.