The Federal Government on Wednesday moved to deepen data protection nationwide while urging States to prioritize data privacy and compliance.
Towards this end the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, in partnership with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, organised an Implementation Workshop for State Governments on the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 and the General Application and Implementation Directive, GAID.
The Implementation Workshop, held in Abuja, had in attendance Commissioners, Heads of Service, and Attorneys-General from across the 36 states.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engineer Nadungu Gagare, said data protection was critical to Nigeria’s digital economy agenda and public trust.
In his keynote address, the National Commissioner/CEO of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, highlighted the importance of data protection and privacy, and outlined the consequences of non-compliance with the NDP Act using relatable real-life examples.
He stressed the critical role of state governments in domesticating national policies and urged participants to prioritise data protection in their respective states.
“This will help foster trust and confidence among citizens, while also creating opportunities for citizens to benefit from the growing data protection ecosystem,” Olatunji said.
He also charged the officials to communicate the importance of data protection to their governors.
The Director-General of the NGF, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, who was represented by the Forum’s General Counsel and Legal Adviser, Chijioke Chukwu, Esq, delivered the welcome address.
Other dignitaries who gave goodwill messages included the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by Arch Joy Baderin; President of Data Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative, DKIPPI, Apostle Tokunbo Smith; Chair of the African Union Cyber Security Expert Group, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola; and Chairman of the Association of Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations of Nigeria, ALDAPCON, Mr Ivan Anya.
The workshop focused on strategies for states to align with the provisions of the NDP Act and GAID, strengthen institutional frameworks, and build capacity for enforcement at sub-national level.
