Abuja: Datametrics Associates Limited has marked its 11th anniversary, celebrating over a decade of using research and data-driven evaluations to shape policies, empower youth, and drive social development in Nigeria. Dr. Feikemi Ipadeola, Technical Director and CEO of Datametrics Associates Limited, told newsmen on Friday in Abuja that the organisation's work involved evaluating maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN) projects.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ipadeola said that the organisation had led evaluations that have shaped Nigeria's national policies and programmes over the past 11 years. She said that these evaluations had helped implementing partners to design initiatives that tackle child malnutrition across multiple states.
In infectious diseases and public health, the organisation has supported the evaluation of COVID-19 vaccination access, malaria control, Lassa fever surveillance, and arboviral infection and co-infection surveillance. She also said that Datametrics had driven evaluation programmes on gender-based violence and protection, and projects implementing interventions in conflict-affected areas that safeguard women and children.
In Abuja, the team visited Hope for Survival Orphanage Home in Gishiri, Katampe District, donating essential food supplies to over 60 children and staff residing in the orphanage. Items included rice, beans, noodles, macaroni, tomato paste, vegetable and palm oils, custard, tea, Maggi, and soaps. 'Our growth over the past 11 years has been made possible by the communities we serve. It is only fitting that we celebrate this milestone by investing in the lives of children and young people,' she said.
Ipadeola said that the organisation provided writing materials and sanitary pads to Government Secondary School, Jabi, Abuja, where nearly 1,000 students benefited, including over 450 female students who received sanitary pads. 'We continue to encourage students to align their strengths and interests with future careers, particularly in a technology-driven world where artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation are transforming job markets. Since co-founding Datametrics in 2014, which started full activities in 2018, the organisation has overseen more than 40 large-scale evaluations and implementation research projects,' she said.
The technical director said that she had served as Principal Investigator, Technical Lead, and Consultant for several national and international organisations. She said that findings from the evaluation of these projects had strengthened health systems, improved nutrition, and enhanced youth empowerment. 'Evaluations of maternal and child health programmes, food security interventions, and adolescent health initiatives have provided actionable evidence for national policy formulation and programme improvement,' she said.
She said the organisation's work in infectious disease surveillance has informed public health strategies across multiple states, while research on gender-based violence and protection programmes has supported the safety and well-being of women and children in vulnerable communities. 'Datametrics is more than a research firm; it is a platform for change. We are committed to generating knowledge that uplifts communities, strengthens development outcomes, and empowers Nigeria's next generation,' she said.
She encouraged stakeholders, policymakers, and the public to support data-driven initiatives, while suggesting collaboration opportunities for those who wish to contribute to youth empowerment, nutrition, and health programmes across Nigeria and West Africa. She said that the organisation would continue to demonstrate how data-driven research, combined with social responsibility, could create tangible benefits for Nigeria's communities and contribute to nation-building. 'Our 11-year journey reflects a model of homegrown excellence, integrating impactful research, youth empowerment, and sustainable development for the country's future,' she said.