*shows importance of Ethical Data in conflict zones
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The University of Ibadan Data and Displacement Research Team has declared that sound data ecosystem is needed in Nigeria to improve the lives of over 2.9 million Nigerians displaced in the North-East due to Boko Haram and other violent crimes.
This was made known by the Lead investigator, Data and Displacement Project funded by the United Kingdom Arts and Humanities Research Council and led by Professor Vicki Squire of the University of Warwick. Dr Olufunke Fayehun
According to the Research team leader, there is the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to invest in technological infrastructure that will make data collection on IDPs coherent to improve their welfare and conditions.
Dr Fayehun stressed that ensuring coherent data collection on IDPs in Northeast Nigeria will guide against wastages and ensure that the IDPs benefit from the ethical data collected to further their welfare.
The Associate Professor in the department sociology University of Ibadan pointed out that displacement by armed conflict has an extended consequences on those affected, including mortality, multiple displacements, loss of livelihood and supportive existential systems.
“As you know, there are more than 2.9 million internally displaced persons in North- Eastern Nigeria, a significant location of armed conflicts in the country. This has led to extended consequences, including mortality, multiple displacements, loss of livelihood and supportive existential systems”, she said.
Dr Fayehun added, ” while the focus of many humanitarian and diplomatic interventions in IDP camps in Nigeria has been on immediate livelihood issues such as feeding, medical care, clothing and shelter, key stakeholders have communicated the need for a robust data ecosystem to support such interventions”.
” The assumption that actors achieve efficient and sustainable outcomes using the required information to function optimally can be feasible when humanitarian institutions and structures strengthen data mapping, gathering, processing, storage and utilization along ethical lines. In addition, unethical data practices and processes violate scientific principles, international best practices, and human rights, leading to social exclusions.”
The team with the co-investigator, Dr Olayinka Akanle, tasked government to “ improve the coordination of activities, efforts and resources of stakeholders towards providing technological and infrastructural facilities as well as improve capacities for efficient and ethical data collection, storage and utilization.”
Also, the team charged government to create “awareness among IDPs about the processes of data capture, data rights and the benefits of improved information for humanitarian interventions. Organize orientation and sensitization meetings with IDPs and stakeholders to support sustainable ethical-data processes and systems”
Emphasizing that there is the need for funds to be available to humanitarian assistance in Nigeria is too little to tackle the enormity of the challenges facing IDPs, the team noted that humanitarian assistance must move beyond attending to basic needs of the IDPs but deal with restoring people to their homelands without threat to their livelihoods and security.
