The African Union- European Union (AU-EU) Digital for Development (D4D) Hub Project and the GIZ Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria in partnership with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have organised a data protection training to foster a comprehensive understanding of the principles, regulations and best practices associated with safe guiding sensitive information.

The training organized for data protection officers, processors and controllers in Lagos was aimed at empowering them with the knowledge and skills necessary to collect, process and to store personal and confidential data securely and in full compliance with the law.

Dr Thuweba Diwani, Commission Manager, GIZ-DTC Nigeria while speaking at the training said that by educating data processors and controllers, organisations seek to minimize the risk associated with data breaches, legal violations and reputational damage.

She noted that the ultimate goal was to instil a culture of data protection and privacy awareness, wherein every member of an organisation contributes to upholding the integrity and security of data, while adhering to legal requirements.

Speaking further she said that the training will support the digital ecosystem and advance digital transformation of Nigeria by instilling a culture of responsible data handling.

“It will equip individuals and organisations with the knowledge and skills required to navigate evolving data privacy regulations.

“As Nigeria continues to embrace digital transformation, organisations would be well prepared to leverage data-driven innovations, while ensuring the security and privacy of personal and corporate data, ultimately contributing to a sustainable digital environment that foster economic growth and innovation.”

Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of NDPC in his address said that the National Data Protection Commission in line with the key pillars of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP), aims to develop globally competitive human capital.

“This pool of experts is expected to bridge the knowledge gap and deepen Data Privacy and Protection within the ecosystem.

Olatunji noted that the training was to further enlighten DPOs, to better understand the Data Protection Act of 2023.

He said organisations must consider the caliber of their human capacity, the kind of privacy policy statement to drive what they do and the kind of information they collect and process, share and store/secure, stating that the weakest link could be a cleaner or driver and they should be properly trained on data protection.

Olatunji however said that unavailability of funds was a major challenge in data protection, stressing that though the problem was not peculiar to Nigeria.

He added that the Commission had been carrying out investigations around resolving data breaches.

According to Inga Stefanowicz, Head of the Green and Digital Economy Section, Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the training is an important milestone in the introduction of data protection standards in Nigeria.

She said that the EU has supported the Nigerian efforts in this direction from the outset, especially as the system being introduced is inspired by European laws and standards.

“We are happy to see the Data Protection Act signed into law, as one of the first legislative acts by the new President Bola Tinubu

“Given the efforts of the previous administration, the Data Protection Commission had by then been established and ready to enforce the new rules protecting Nigerian citizens and businesses from data breaches. In the ever expanding digital economy, solid data protection rules create a safe and enabling ecosystem.”