Ilorin R Users Group

Join us for an in-depth exploration of data manipulation in R using data.table and dplyr. Learn how to efficiently work with large datasets, perform data transformations, and optimize your code for better performance. We'll cover the strengths and weaknesses of each package and provide practical tips for choosing the right tool for your data manipulation needs.

This going to be an hour practical session on creating clear, professional charts from raw data using R. Move beyond default Excel graphs to publication-ready visuals that communicate your findings effectively.

Why R for viz: R’s `ggplot2` package builds charts layer by layer. You control colors, labels, themes, and fonts with code — so every graph can be updated and reproduced in seconds. No more manual formatting each time data changes.

What we’ll cover:

1. The grammar: Build bar charts, line plots, and scatterplots using `ggplot(data, aes(x, y)) + geom__()`
2. Polish: Add titles, fix axis labels, choose colorblind-friendly palettes, apply clean themes
3. Maps & beyond: Plot survey locations or regional data using shapefiles with `sf` + `ggplot2`
4. Export: Save high-resolution PNG/PDF for reports, papers, and presentations

We’ll work with datasets to show real use cases.

All skill levels are welcome. If you’ve made a chart in Excel, you can do this in R. Basic R knowledge helps but not required. Bring a laptop.

Turn your data tables into stories. Leave with a reusable `ggplot_template.R` for bar, line, map, and scatter plots that you can adapt to your own projects.

_Good analysis deserves good visuals. R makes both possible.

Training Material: Research Report — Digital Surveys with R + KoboToolbox
For Ilorin-R-Users-Group

This is a practical session on building a complete digital survey workflow. Learn how to replace paper questionnaires with a free system that collects data offline on phones and analyzes results in R the same day.

Why this matters: Paper surveys delay projects for weeks due to manual entry and cleaning. R + KoboToolbox eliminates data entry, auto-captures GPS, and flags errors while enumerators are still in the field.

What we’ll cover:

1. KoboToolbox: Build a 5-question form online. Deploy to phones. Works without internet.
2. Collect: Simulate field collection using the KoboCollect app. Each response gets GPS + timestamp.
3. R Integration: Download data directly into R with `robotoolbox`. No CSV export/import needed.
4. Clean & Analyze: Use `dplyr` + `janitor` to standardize names, fix typos, and create summary tables by LGA.
5. Report: Generate a 1-page PDF summary with maps and charts using `rmarkdown`.

We’ll replicate a survey — from form design to auto-generated report — showing how responses move from phone to final analysis in under 20 minutes.

*Who: Researchers, students, NGO staff, students and extension workers who run surveys. Basic R knowledge helps but not required. Bring laptop + Android phone.

Takeaway: Leave with a working KoboToolbox account, `survey_workflow.R` template, and the skills to run your next field survey without touching paper.

_Collect smarter. Analyze faster. Report with evidence.