FG launches data protection academy to equip employees and job seekers on data privacy

The Federal Government has unveiled the Data Protection Virtual Academy, which aims to promote digital security across various sectors in the country. The academy, championed by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), aims to provide virtual training in data protection and privacy to civil servants, private sector employees, and young job seekers.

While unveiling the academy during the opening ceremony of the 8th Edition of the Network of Data Protection Authorities Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, described the academy as a pioneering initiative and a global first strategic move.

“It is therefore my honour to formally launch the Data Protection Virtual Academy, a bold and innovative step towards building a digitally secure and globally competitive workforce for Nigeria. The academy that is being launched today offers every Nigerian, from civil servants to private sector employees, to young job seekers, access to practical training on data protection principles and basic cyber hygiene,” Tijani stated.

Also Read: NDPC to explore dialogue with Meta amid exit threat over $255 million data breach row.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, reinstated the government’s commitment to merge innovation with data privacy protection in emerging technologies. He noted that the country’s journey in data protection has been an evolving narrative of progress and is recognised globally, which proves that when a nation is committed to privacy and dignity, transformation follows. 

Shettima also stated that Nigeria is extending its waves of data protection, following the NDPR that came into effect in 2019, and President Bola Tinubu’s swift action in signing the NDPA into law within 14 days of assuming office.

“We reassert our alignment with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Our data protection ecosystem is now directly tied to the delivery of the eight presidential priorities of this administration.”

For employees and potential employees, the virtual training further fine-tunes their understanding of data protection practices and how they can reduce the risk of data breaches and protect sensitive information. It also helps them to navigate the digital landscape more effectively and secure a competitive workforce for Nigeria in the long run.

A call for broader data protection in Africa

The National Commissioner of NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, while stressing the significance of data security, noted that increased collaboration among African data protection authorities is a key to shaping a resilient and trusted digital future for the continent. He called for an increased partnership among various agencies to strengthen enforcement, cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.

“I am optimistic that the outcomes of this conference will further shape a resilient and trusted African Digital future. NADPA must continue to evolve as a central platform for continental data governance,” Olatunji said.

The Network of African Data Protection Authorities was established in September 2016 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to promote collaboration and harmonise data protection frameworks across Africa.

Amid the move to strengthen data protection, the commission revealed that it is exploring a partnership to resolve the Meta Platforms Inc. data breach issue through dialogue and collaboration.

While revealing the latest development during a one-day intensive workshop for Data Protection Officers in Abuja on Monday, Olatunji stressed that the Commission’s primary strategy was not to escalate issues but to engage organisations in meaningful resolution.

“Our new approach is partnership. We are working with them to see if we can resolve the issue. We don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. What we do today is to look at the issues — what do we need to resolve, and are they willing to do what is right? We have to look at political ways of solving it,” Olatunji said.

Meta recently threatened to exit the country after the platform and its subsidiary, WhatsApp LLC, were ordered to pay a $220 million administrative penalty after being found guilty of data breaches and discriminatory practices following an appeal hearing. Meta was also ordered to pay an additional $35,000 to the commission for the cost of the investigation.