Former  Governorship candidate of  the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP,  Patience Ndidi Ofure Key on Sunday harped on the relevance of research and statistics in formulating policies and programmes of government.
Ndidi made this disclosure during the 14th edition of BA Global Awards  ceremony organized by the BA Global Consult, a research improvement and public policies experts where she was honored with the “Noble Woman of The Year” award.
She Dedicated the award to every woman in leadership, every young girl who dreams of breaking barriers, and every citizen who envisions a better Edo State and a greater Nigeria.
She thanked the organizers for providing a platform where research, policy, and leadership are celebrated as instruments of national progress.
A scholar presentation, with the theme, “How Research Improves Public Policies and Economic Outcomes,” 
Ndidi said the theme of a scholar presentation that focused on how research improves public policies and economic outcomes resonated deeply with her given it relevance in driving good governance
 Public policies built on assumptions she said cannot thrive but rather those based on concrete data, thorough research, and evidence-driven decision-making princesses.
“When leaders listen, analyze, and implement policies based on factual research, economies flourish, societies progress, and people prosper”.
Ndidi said for too long, public policies in Nigeria had been designed reactively thus leading to bad economies, adding that Public programs shouldn’t be launched without empirical data, as they will ultimately lead to waste, inefficiency, and stagnation. 
“The consequence is a governance system that fails to address the real economic and social challenges of the people.
“In advanced economies, research is the bedrock of policy development. Countries like Singapore, Canada, and Germany heavily invest in policy research institutes, ensuring that every decision is data-driven.
“Edo State stands at a critical moment. With abundant human and natural resources, the state should be a leading economic powerhouse in Nigeria. Yet, what do we see today”?
On women’s under representation in leadership, she said despite Edo’s history of producing powerful women leaders, female political participation remains low and limiting progress in governance.
Earlier in his remarks, the Project coordinator of BA Global Consult, Dr. Bishop Akhalamhe described Ndidi Ofure as a formidable politician whose records of performance in the last Edo 2024 guber election could not be forgotten in hurry