Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Nigeria’s premier private university, successfully concluded a 3-day intensive training workshop on practical data analysis from February 10 to 12, 2026. The program, held at the university’s ICT Center, focused on hands-on applications using leading statistical software: EViews, Excel, and SPSS.
Organized by the Department of Economics and Development Studies in the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan College of Arts and Social Sciences, the training targeted undergraduate and postgraduate students eager to enhance their empirical research capabilities.
Participants engaged in in-depth sessions covering linear regression models, time series analysis, panel data techniques, and the critical interpretation of empirical results.
Dr. Patience Lilian Ozor, Acting Head of the Department of Economics and Development Studies, officially welcomed attendees. In her address, she underscored the growing necessity of robust data skills in academic and professional settings. “Proper analysis and interpretation of data are foundational to meaningful research,” Dr. Ozor stated. She emphasized the workshop’s design to foster competence in Excel, SPSS, and EViews through active, hands-on participation, expressing confidence that participants would depart with significantly strengthened analytical abilities.
Prof. Blessing Ose Oligbi, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics and Research, delivered a keynote address highlighting the broader relevance of data analysis in today’s world. She stressed its role in enabling informed decision-making across disciplines and its power to influence policy and development outcomes. “In a data-driven era, these skills are essential, not optional,” Prof. Oligbi remarked. She urged participants to engage actively and collaboratively, reaffirming IUO’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, research innovation, and producing graduates equipped for real-world challenges.
The training’s core objective was to provide practical, actionable knowledge of statistical tools, empowering students to conduct empirical research with confidence and precision.
Through a blend of live demonstrations, guided software exercises, interactive discussions, and independent practice, attendees successfully ran regression models, processed time series and panel datasets, and interpreted statistical outputs on their own.
The program offered valuable exposure to applied econometric methods, bolstering participants’ technical competence for future research, policy analysis, and career pursuits in economics, development studies, and related fields.
Igbinedion University Okada, established in 1999 as Nigeria’s first private university, continues to prioritize skill-building initiatives that align with global standards and national development needs. This workshop exemplifies the institution’s dedication to bridging theoretical knowledge with practical expertise in an increasingly data-centric academic landscape.
