Abuja: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with UNICEF, has commenced field activities for the seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7). A statement issued by Mr. Alesanmi Folorunso, Head of Department, Communication and Public Relations at NBS, outlined that the exercise will be conducted from now until March 2026. The survey aims to generate data to support policy-making and guide development interventions in key areas such as child health, nutrition, and education.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, MICS is a globally recognized household survey program designed to produce statistically sound and internationally comparable data on women and children. The survey provides insights into child protection, schooling, healthcare access, water, and sanitation, as well as household living conditions. These results are pivotal for tracking progress under national and international frameworks like the Renewed Hope Agenda, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The ongoing seventh round of the survey aims to deliver Nigeria’s most comprehensive dataset on the conditions of children, women, and vulnerable groups. Conducted every five years, MICS7 will generate indicators at national and state levels across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, addressing critical data gaps and enhancing evidence-based decision-making. Trained NBS interviewers will visit selected households using digital tools to gather accurate information.
The Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, emphasized that MICS has been Nigeria’s trusted tool for understanding the lives of women and children since 1995, converting complex realities into quantifiable data that informs policy and progress. UNICEF’s Deputy Representative to Nigeria, Rownak Khan, stated that the survey has been the leading source of disaggregated information on women and children in the country since its inception.