On Tuesday 28th January 2020, during the ‘National Privacy Week Awareness Workshop’ hosted by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi welcomed the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FNCS, FBCS, FIIM and other dignitaries to the event. Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, in his welcome address, charged Nigerians to always protect their data while using the internet. He said, in response to the global call for privacy regulation that, NITDA in 2019 issued the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 was issued as a response to the global call for privacy regulation and inconsistent with the FG initiative to make Nigeria a globally competitive business environment by The Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FNCS, FBCS, FIIM.
Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) had said that “The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in an attempt to diversify the economy came up with Digital Economy policy and strategy for the growth and development of the country”. That as data increasingly becomes the nexus of the modern economy, regulation by government and awareness by citizens against possible breaches and abuses becomes important. He commended NITDA for an aggressive approach at ensuring Nigerians leverage on the NDPR to become part of the global community that is data-led.
Mr. Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, as a guest speaker stated that due to the advancement of the Internet, some level of regulation is required to ensure the stability, integrity, and survival of the Internet. “NDPR envisages three critical groups whose capacities must be developed: Data Subjects (you and I) who are the ultimate ‘owners’ of foundational data; data controllers like CBN, NIMC, and FRSC, who determine the purpose for which the data is being used; and data processors like enrolment organizations and Galaxy Backbone, who obtains records or otherwise holds or transmits the information or data on behalf of the data controller not forgetting the occasional overlaps in some cases”.
As usual, the representatives of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) with other stakeholders were at the event.
To read more, click on the URL https://nitda.gov.ng/awareness-about-data-privacy-key-to-growth-and-development-nitda/