NBS Mourns, As Statistician General Dies at 57

Kingsley Offu

Nigeria’s National Bureau for Statistics -NBS has been thrown into mourning, following the sudden death of the Statistician General of the Federation, Dr. Simon Harry. He was aged 57.

According to an official statement by the National Bureau for Statistics, the late Statistician General died after a brief illness.

The statement, signed by the Director of Communication and Public Relations of the NBS, Sunday Ichedi and made available to newsmen in Abuja, described the late Harry’s demise as a great loss to the country.

The statement reads in part:

“The Board, management and staff of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with a deep sense of loss, announce the passing on of the Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NBS, Dr. Simon Harry, in the early hours of today, Wednesday, April 13^th 2022 after a brief illness.”

“Born on the 15^th of March, 1965 in Lishin – Jengre of Plateau State, Dr Harry attended L.E.A. Primary School, Tuddai, Kaduna State (1974 – 1980); Amo Community Secondary School, Katako Jengre, Plateau State (1980 – 1985; from where he obtained his first school leaving certificate and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificates respectively.”

“The late Statistician General was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (1987 – 1990) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) honours degree in Economics, after which he earned his Post-Graduate Diploma in Statistics from the University of Ibadan in 1997. Dr. Harry later attended the University of Abuja from 2014 – 2017 for his Master of Science (M.Sc) degree in Economics and also his Ph.D in Economics.”

“Dr Harry started his public career in 1992 when he joined the then Federal Office of Statistics and rose through the ranks to become a director before his appointment as the Statistician General of the Federation on August 26^th 2021.”

“The late Statistician General was a member of many professional bodies in Nigeria and abroad. The deceased was happily married and his marriage is blessed with children.