Challenges of governance in Nigeria are often rooted in policies shaped by assumptions rather than facts. Too often, decisions are driven by political convenience or external pressure instead of reliable data, the results being policies that look good on paper but fail to solve real problems. Evidence-based policymaking offers a different path, one where government actions are guided by data, tested solutions and measurable outcomes.
Globally, countries that embraced this approach show us what is possible. Vietnam, for instance, once one of the poorest nations in Asia, introduced its Doi Moi reforms in 1986. By linking policies to data on productivity, trade and poverty, the country cut poverty from over 70% in the 1980s to below 6% by 2023. World Bank evidence became their compass and growth followed.
Closer to home, Rwanda provides another example. Through its Imihigo performance which adopts a data-driven system where local leaders are evaluated on measurable outcomes, Rwanda rebuilt trust in governance. Combined with deliberate gender inclusion, this has made Rwanda the country with the highest share of women in parliament worldwide at 61%. UN Women created accountability, and accountability built credibility.
Evidence also transforms social policy. In Brazil, the government launched Bolsa Família, a conditional cash transfer program targeting families in poverty using household data. Between 2003 and 2014, it lifted over 30 million Brazilians out of poverty. By using data to ensure support reached the right households, Brazil reduced inequality while strengthening democracy.
Additionally, small nations have shown how data strengthens governance. Estonia, often called the world’s first digital nation, built an e-governance system where nearly every government service is online. This evidence-driven digital transformation now saves the country 2% of its GDP annually (OECD). Transparency and trust are strengthened when citizens can see and track decisions.
The same principle guided South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using real-time data on testing, tracing and mobility, the government avoided a total lockdown while flattening the curve. By mid-2020, South Korea reported one of the lowest COVID fatality rates in the OECD. Evidence turned crisis into opportunity.
African nations are beginning to embrace this model. Kenya’s Open Data Initiative gave citizens access to detailed information on budget allocations, enabling civil society to hold leaders accountable. Evidence revealed gaps such as funds allocated for education but never reaching classrooms and created space for reforms.
India offers another striking case. Through the Aadhaar biometric ID program, welfare benefits and subsidies are now linked to verified recipients. By 2022, Aadhaar had prevented billions of dollars in leakages from ghost beneficiaries to protected resources and ensured inclusion.
In Latin America, Chile pioneered evidence-based poverty reduction through programs like Chile Solidario and Chile Crece Contigo. These programs tracked family needs and adjusted interventions based on measurable progress. As a result, Chile cut extreme poverty from 38.6% in 1990 to 13.7% in 20023
Also in West Africa, Ghana has taken steps by leveraging mobile data for taxation and financial inclusion. Mobile money adoption helped expand the tax base while providing millions with access to credit and payments GSMA.
Furthermore, in Europe, Poland shows the long-term power of data-driven transition. After 1989, it moved from a command economy to one of the EU’s fastest-growing markets. By 2020, GDP per capita had quadrupled compared to the early 1990s.
Where governance is anchored on evidence, democracy thrives. Data is not just numbers, it is the voice of citizens translated into action. It tells us who is excluded, where resources are wasted, and which policies truly work. For Nigeria, adopting evidence-based policymaking is not optional, it is the difference between repeating cycles of failed promises and building a government that delivers.
We must invest in open data systems, strengthen institutions to collect and analyze information and ensure that policymaking integrates gender and youth perspectives supported by real numbers. Civil society, academia and the private sector must be partners in this effort, not bystanders.
Nigeria cannot continue to govern on guesswork. Budgets must reflect real poverty data. Education policies must align with enrollment and skills demand. Gender reforms must be backed by gender analysis. Youth programs must be evaluated for impact, not just announced for headlines.
Ladidi Abdulmumin
Ladidi Abdulmumin is a Digitalization Consultant, passionate about shaping Africa's future at the intersection of digitalization, governance, and climate action. She is a former Policy Impact Fellow at Cheetahs Policy Institute.
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