By The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Gombe State has announced that the ongoing Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 7) will generate credible and internationally comparable data to support policy decisions affecting children, women, adolescents, and households.
State Officer of the NBS, Elizabeth Augustine, disclosed this on Thursday, explaining that the survey, which commenced in December 2025, is scheduled for completion by March 2026.
“MICS is designed to gather comprehensive information on the welfare, health, education, and general well-being of children, women, men, and adolescents. That is the core objective of the survey,” Augustine stated.
She explained that the exercise is being implemented by the Federal and State Governments in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners.
According to her, the survey is covering 50 Enumeration Areas (EAs) across all local government areas of Gombe State. Two field teams are currently deployed, each comprising six personnel: a supervisor, three female interviewers, one male interviewer, and a measurer.
“Each Enumeration Area is expected to interview at least 20 respondents selected from an earlier household listing. Fieldwork is progressing well, with some teams already in their 15th EA,” she added.
Augustine described MICS as a wide-ranging survey covering more than 200 modules across critical sectors such as health, education, nutrition, and functionality tests for adolescents aged 7 to 12 years.
“We measure the weight and height of all children under five and collect detailed information on their dietary intake. The goal is to provide government with accurate data to guide interventions where necessary,” she said.
She further explained that the survey includes maternal and antenatal care modules to assess access to healthcare services for women.
“We ask women whether they attended antenatal care during their last pregnancy. This information will help shape policies aimed at improving maternal and postnatal healthcare services,” Augustine noted.
On education, she said MICS seeks to determine school enrolment levels, dropout rates, and access to early childhood education, as well as assess ICT literacy among adolescents.
Acting Gombe State Statistician, Ibrahim Abubakar, emphasised the importance of the survey to the state’s development agenda.
“The significance of MICS to Gombe State cannot be overemphasised. It provides reliable data that is internationally comparable on the well-being of children, women, and households,” he said.
Abubakar described the survey as a vital tool for informed decision-making, adding that the State Bureau of Statistics is actively involved in every stage of the exercise.
“From planning meetings to the selection and training of enumerators and the ongoing fieldwork, the Bureau is fully engaged in the entire process,” he explained.
He also noted that MICS is conducted every five years to track progress in key development indicators.
“The last round was conducted in 2021–2022, and this current round will help us measure changes and trends since then,” Abubakar stated.
According to him, data generated from MICS plays a crucial role in monitoring Gombe State’s 10-year development plan.
“The indicators from MICS help us track progress in areas such as nutrition, health, and education, enabling government to make evidence-based decisions that directly impact the lives of citizens,” he added.
