- Sunday, April 28, 2024
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The Nigeria Data Protection
Commission (NDPC) has launched the Nigeria Data Protection Strategic Roadmap
and Action Plan (NDP-SRAP 2023-2027) yesterday in Abuja.
The action plan is expected to
create about 500,000 jobs and generate more than N125 billion in revenues.
The launch of the five-pillar
NDP-SRAP held concurrently with a capacity-building workshop on Data Privacy
and Protection for Data Protection Officers.
The five pillars are governance,
ecosystem and technology, human capital development, cooperation and collaboration
as well as funding and sustainability.
NDPC’s National Commissioner, Dr
Vincent Olatunji, said at the launch that the NDP-SRAP and the training were
important to enable the commission to achieve its mandate of having a robust
data protection sector.
He recalled that part of the
“Renewed Hope’’ agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration was to
create about two million jobs in the digital economy sector.
The data protection sector alone
could create more than 500,000 jobs, he said.
“The NDP-SRAP comprises
interlinked initiatives and activities like job, wealth creation, human capital
development, revenue generation, foundational initiatives for the digital
economy and enhancing Nigeria’s global reputation.
“These activities are expected to
create about 500,000 jobs, generate revenue of more than N125 billion and
expand the sector within the lifespan of this roadmap.
“The roadmap will contribute to
the growth of the country’s international businesses and its global
competitiveness in human capital.
“In security, it is one area that
will check malicious use of identity; unauthorised access to people’s data
and information used for various things;
build trust and improve the global perception of Nigerians,’’ Olatunji said.
He added that jobs in the data
protection sector were not limited to any profession because the NDP-SRAP has
more than 69 activities embedded in the five pillars.
According to him, public
institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, and the media have
roles to play to ensure an effective action plan.
He said the commission was
considering endorsing a Data Protection and Certification body where certified
professionals worked as obtainable in global practice.
Olatunji lamented that certified
professionals in Nigeria had foreign certifications, which were expensive to
obtain through examinations and the annual renewal of the certifications.
“We have the competence to have
our own home-grown solutions and certifications that compare favourably with
those around the globe,’’ he said.
Olatunji explained that the
roadmap took one year to prepare and was recognised in the “Renewed Hope’’
agenda mandates and the blueprints of the Ministry of Communications and
Digital Economy.
In his submission, Mr Ivan Anya,
Chairman Board of Trustees, Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations
(LDPCOs), said a lot of engagements were on-going to ensure the implementation
of the roadmap.
Anya said there were currently
about 150 LDPCOs and more were expected to register to create opportunities for
the development of the country’s data protection ecosystem.
According to him, increased
activities are expected since the NDP-SRAP is a working document.
In his remarks, Dr Ayodeji
Oyewole, President, Institute of Information Management, (IM-Africa), commended
the initiatives of the NDPC to improve Nigeria’s data and information
management landscape.
He noted that the commission was
identifying opportunities that would help to strengthen the economy and provide
platforms for professionals to develop their careers and help others to find
career paths.
He added that from the content of
the roadmap, it would have a futuristic impact on the country and ensure
sustainability.
A total of 150 data protection
officers participated at the workshop.
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