LAGOS- The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on Friday called for collaboration from across all sectors for effective data protection.
The National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, made the call in his keynote address at the Centre for Business Law and Policy at the University of Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had the theme: “One Year of Data Protection Act and Five Years of Regulating Data Processing in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges.”
Olatunji said that data protection was everyone’s business, noting that every individual and organisation played a critical role in safeguarding data and fostering collaboration.
He said that collaborating with individuals, organisations, and others was part of the commission’s efforts to enhance cooperation and address both its gains and challenges.
Olatunji said: “Together, we can achieve a higher standard of data protection and compliance.
“I urge you to work with the Commission in exchanging ideas, developing policies, and exploring other areas of partnership.”
The national commissioner also emphasised the importance of Nigerians, especially youths, acquiring data protection skills to benefit from the opportunities in the ecosystem.
According to him, there are not many certified experts in the field and the process was ongoing to domesticate data protection certification in Nigeria.
Olatunji highlighted the importance of data protection law and the model adopted in Nigeria to ensure compliance.
He also emphasised the opportunities within the ecosystem, particularly in terms of job prospects for the students who participated in the lecture.
The NDPC boss, however, listed the challenges of collaboration as including awareness and education, limited resources and rapid technological advancements balancing innovation and regulation.
Other challenges, he said, are enforcement and compliance as well as cybersecurity threats, among others.
The Vice Chancellor, Unilag, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, appreciated the national commissioner.
She said that Unilag as an academic institution recognised data protection as an emerging ecosystem, adding that it would work more closely with the Commission to design courses and build a body of experts and professionals in data protection.
Ogunsola also pledged that Unilag would take all necessary steps to comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act to adequately safeguard students’ personal data. (NAN)
