The Complementary Role of UI-LISA in Statistical Training and Capacity Building at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

A notable gap in the statistical training at the tertiary level in Nigeria is the absolute lack of exposure to first-hand statistical practice and/or acquisition of statistical consulting skills by the students. At the University of Ibadan (UI), undergraduate students in statistics are required to undertake work experience for 3 months in industry or a government agency as part of the requirements for the awarded degree. Unfortunately, this requirement is not integrated into the curriculum of all statistics-degree-granting institutions in Nigeria. Even where the requirement exists, the challenge usually faced by the students is how to find suitable placements in a statistics-practice environment where practical statistical skills needed to become effective professional statisticians can be easily acquired. The creation of the UI Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis [UI-LISA] in 2015 provided the needed environment for acquiring practical training in statistics. The objective of this chapter is to share how UI-LISA is serving as an industrial training (IT) resource base for statistics students seeking a place for their internship, not only from UI but also from neighbouring polytechnics and universities. From 2015 till date, UI-LISA has admitted and trained students under the IT platform created for them to acquire requisite experience for a period ranging from 3 to 6 months. These students have come from other institutions such as The Polytechnic Ibadan; Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); Federal School of Statistics (FSS), Ajibode, Ibadan; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). The chapter describes the various activities undertaken at UI-LISA to complement statistical training at different levels of statistics education in Nigeria (such as National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, Bachelor’s degree and Postgraduate). The main activities include: specialised hands-on training in statistical tools and software such as R; statistical consulting practices and training with clients; statistical collaboration skills; statistical communication; and a walk-in statistical clinic where statistical advice is provided to members of the university community. In sum, UI-LISA is positioned towards building statistical capacity and providing practical skills beyond the formal training provided by the institutions.