The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has commended the commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji on the role of NDPC in establishing a structure around the regulation of data protection while stating its extreme importance in the country’s journey.
The National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) recently held a 2-day sensitization workshop in Nigeria’s capital city. The workshop had in the Minister in attendance.
Tijani said that “data privacy is not just a matter of convenience, it is a fundamental human right and we should care about the data we generate and what it is being used for.
“As we embrace the digital age, it is crucial that the personal and sensitive information of our citizens is maintained under the eyes of confidentiality.
“We are committed as a government to ensuring that every Nigerian can trust the digital platforms that they use, knowing that their personal day will not be misused.
“To achieve this, we are taking proactive steps to strengthen our data protection framework as evident in the setting up of NDPC. We are working with stakeholders including the national assembly to enact robust data Protection laws that are aligned with international standards.
“This involves holding organisations accountable for how they collect and process data, we will also normalise the culture of transparency among our citizens so that everyone is fully aware of how their data is used.
“We will collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure everyone is aware of their rights and how they can protect their digital identity. This is not the responsibility of government alone, each one of us should ensure that everyone around us understands the value of their data and how they can protect themselves.
“As data Protection officers and MDAs, we must be responsible for this as you are the faces citizens interact with. It is important that we model what we want to see in the society. The digital economy is an era of growth and innovation that requires us to nurture it.
“The president is interested in the power of the digital economy. As we encourage the development of innovative technology, we should also prioritize the implementation of stronger data security and protection as well.
“As we build an inclusive and prosperous digital future by fostering a collective culture of responsible data handling, we can ensure our citizen’s personal information is managed responsibly and also secured.
As a minister, am personally committed to this and I ask that you all join us to work towards a Nigeria where everyone’s data is protected and secured.
“As we mainstream the use of technology, not everyone in our society knows how to manage their data. People are coming on more on social media, and sharing indiscriminate messages on social media shouldn’t be. we continue to push and enlighten our citizens to protect their data we also ask that you join us on this journey to protect the data of our citizens”, the minister added.
