State officials and dignitaries at the commissioning of the Bureau of Statistics Office Complex: (L-R) Dr. Oladeinde, PS Ministry of Health; Mr. Waheed Adesina, PS Ministry of Information; Dr. Aikulola, PS ITI; Mr. Ajayi Michael, State Statistician General; Hon. Olaolu Olabimtan, Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Planning; Mrs. Olufunmilayo Dada, PS Budget and Planning; and Dr. Adeleye, Member of Ogstep.

By: Oduronbi Pelumi.

Ogun State Government has unveiled a fully rehabilitated and modernised Bureau of Statistics (BoS) complex to mark a significant leap in its public service reform agenda.

Chairman of the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) Steering Committee and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, who also serves as Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, while commissioning the edifice in Abeokuta, described the development as a key milestone in the ongoing drive to reposition public institutions for efficient service delivery.

Represented by Chairman OGSTEP Technical Committee and Commissioner for Budget and Planning, who doubles as Chairman of the Bureau of Statistics (BoS) Board, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, Okubadejo explained that the project was executed under the Public Service Reform component of the World Bank-supported project. He noted that OGSTEP is a four-legged initiative targeting improvements in Agriculture, Skills Development, Business Enabling Environment, and Public Sector Reforms—under which the BoS transformation was carried out.

“This commissioning is particularly symbolic because it represents not just an infrastructural upgrade, but a critical enabler for data reliability, institutional productivity, and smarter governance,” he said.

Speaking, the Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, represented by Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Service Matters, Mr. Dipo Ogunfowora, commended the intervention, describing it as long overdue. while commending the vision and political will of Governor Dapo Abiodun, for making the transformation a reality.

In his remark, a member of the BoS Board and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Waheed Adesina, lauded OGSTEP’s implementation team for delivering quality and value, urging staffers to uphold a culture of excellence and take full responsibility for the proper use and maintenance of the new facility.

Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olu Aikulola, described the complex as a monumental achievement that should inspire, renew professionalism among data officers.

He emphasised the importance of safeguarding the infrastructure for sustainability and advised the OGSTEP team to ensure the completion of all ongoing projects within the specified timeframe.

In their good will messages, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Dada, and her counterpart in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladeinde, praised the transformation, reaffirming that the rehabilitation came at a time when data drives development and aid policy formulation in the right direction.

Also speaking, the OGSTEP Project Coordinator, Mrs. Mosun Owo-Odusi, represented by the Project Procurement SA Specialist, Dr. Kayode Adeleye, noted that the rehabilitation aligns with OGSTEP’s objective to strengthen institutional frameworks and improve service delivery across the State, adding that the new complex was equipped with modern facilities including a data centre, Training Hall, upgraded workspaces, and other infrastructures aimed at enhancing operational capacity.

In his response, the State Statistician-General, Mr. Babatunde Ajayi, expressed deep appreciation to the State Government and OGSTEP for the unprecedented support. “The Bureau has never had it this good,” he said, assuring that the facility would be put to optimal use in delivering accurate, timely, and policy-relevant data for the state’s development.