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In a bid to revolutionize data protection and leverage the potential of the digital economy for economic growth, the Federal Government has announced its intention to make innovative investments in data security. This initiative aligns with the broader strategy to digitize administrative processes and harness the benefits of the digital era.
During a press conference to mark the 2024 Global Data Privacy Day, themed “Take Control of Your Data,” Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed the government’s commitment to safeguarding data in an interconnected world. The event, organized by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) under the leadership of National Commissioner Dr. Vincent Olatunji, took place in Abuja on Sunday.
The commemoration, observed in Nigeria from January 28 to February 4, aims to raise awareness of data subjects’ rights and promote adherence to data protection regulations on a global scale.
Minister Tijani emphasized the government’s role in leading data protection efforts and highlighted the interconnected nature of modern gadgets, necessitating robust data protection measures. President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to transform public services with technology was reiterated, signaling a significant digitization of various public services in the coming months and years.
While acknowledging the risks associated with data collection and sharing, the minister emphasized the need for government agencies to safeguard data appropriately. The NDPC, backed by Galaxy Backbone, will play a crucial role in overseeing the data exchange system to ensure compliance with established guidelines.
Minister Tijani expressed concerns about the knowledge gap in data protection, emphasizing the need for enlightenment. The upcoming week will focus on raising awareness and addressing the capacity gap in understanding and implementing data protection measures.
NDPC National Commissioner Dr. Vincent Olatunji highlighted the commission’s achievements, including generating over N400 million through data protection compliance and remedial actions. A strategic roadmap and action plan with five pillars have been established, with the commission successfully achieving two of the three most challenging goals in less than a year.
Dr. Olatunji emphasized the importance of creating a competitive pool of Data Protection Officers (DPOs) in line with global standards. Plans for licensing an indigenous certification authority with international scope and standards are underway to ensure compliance without relying on foreign certifications.
Data Privacy Day is observed in several countries, including the US, Canada, Israel, Nigeria, Qatar, and 47 European nations. Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Stanley Adedeji, assured that the National Assembly would align its data collection methods with existing laws and urged all institutions to actively participate in the evolving data protection ecosystem.
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