By Stellamaris Ashinze
Lagos, July 20, 2023 (NAN) The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on Thursday organised a sensitisation workshop on Data Privacy and Protection for Data Processors and Controllers.

The National Commissioner, NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said on the sideline of the workshop that the workshop was meant to create awareness of the NDPC Act.

Olatunji said that on the part of data controllers and processors, the workshop was to sensitise  them on care and accountability to ensure that data collected is protected and secured.

He said that the workshop would create awareness for data processors and controllers on the need to build confidence and trust in the Nigerian system.

According to him, building confidence and trust in our system through the proper implementation of the act would also to a large extent equally attract foreign investments to the country.

“In a lot of countries now, when you do not have a data protection law, your data protection supervisory authority does not want to do business with you.

“With this law, we have been able to cross that stage and we know that an average investor coming to Nigeria will know that we have a law and we have an independent Data Protection Authority (DPA).

“If there is any breach of your personal data, you have  somewhere to go.

“So it is a major milestone here in Nigeria.

““More importantly, the current administration is trying to use technology to drive development and that is why it is called the beginning of a new era,’’ Olatunji said.

According to him, the over 500,000 data processors and controllers in Nigeria need to register with NDPC, which is what the law says.

The commissioner said that Data Protection Officers (DPOs) and Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs) should be given six months to acquaint themselves with the provision of the law.

He said that was why the awareness would be repeated in Abuja.

He said that very soon, the commission would be seen on a lot of platforms and media house as well as social media to create awareness and for the data processors and controllers to register with the commission.

Olatunji said that if the commission could not count the DPOs and DPCOs and did not know them, how could they be regulated.

He said that those ones that could be captured within the ecosystem needed to be monitored on what the DPOs and DPCOs were doing and how they processed data.

According to him, from now and Dec. 31, the DPOs and DPCOs are to register with the commission and from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2024, they are to submit their annual audit reports and measures to safeguards database.

Olatunji earlier in his keynote address, highlighted the benefits of the NDPC Act as strengthening data security, building trust and consumers’ confidence.

He also highlighted promoting business competitiveness, aligning with international standard, compliance and accountability, amongst others, as benefits of the NDPC Act.

The commissioner, however, while calling for more DPOs, emphasised that the commission had the ability to create wealth and employment by creating about 500,000 digital jobs.

Also speaking to NAN, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisation in Nigeria (ALDAPCON), Mr Ivan Anya, lauded the workshop.

Anya said that the workshop which was on awareness was one of the key pillars of the strategic roadmap of NDPC and would continue the awareness.

He said that now that the Act was available, there was the need to continue the awareness to encourage compliance. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Mbah, Nwifuru, NUJ eulogise late Sen. Ude at memorial lecture

By Bridget Ikyado

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has recommended multi disciplinary approach to address the lingering insecurity in the country.

Kalu made the recommended at a round table discussion of stakeholders on ‘Conflict-Sensitive Strategies to Address Insecurity’ organised by Vision Africa in Abuja.

The deputy speaker said that Nigeria needed to take a comprehensive approach to addressing these security challenges.

“This means using a variety of tools, including law enforcement, military action, key non-kinetic measures, and conflict-sensitive development programming.

“Laws and legislation can play an important role in improving peace and addressing insecurity. For example, we have strengthened our laws against terrorism and banditry in recent times.

We also need to pass more laws, resolutions and motions that promote social justice and economic opportunity, which can help to reduce the root causes of conflict.

“We must also find ways to manage our diversity in a way that makes it a source of strength rather than a vehicle for conflict. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural country.

“This diversity is our strength, but it can also be a source of conflict. We need to find ways to manage our diversity and to use it to build a stronger and more united country,” he said.

The lawmaker said that government must be committed to implementing the laws and legislations passed by the parliament.

Kalu said that government must also work to build trust in the people, so that they are more likely to support the efforts to address insecurity.

According to him, we need to invest in conflict-sensitive development programming which can help to address the root causes of conflict and build peace.

In his remarks, Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa said there was need to review of legislations to improve peace and security in the country.

Represented by the Director, Civil Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Anthony Idache, Musa said that the contemporary security challenges needed more stringent laws to deter violators.

He said there is need for Border Security Act to support the Nigeria Customs Service Act, a Radicalisation Act to cominalise radialisation and special courts for terrorism related cases for speedy judgment

Musa said there is need for Negotiation Act to prohibit all forms of negotiation with terrorist in whatever form or medium or speaking on their behalf.

Also speaking, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi said there was need for every single Nigerian and institution to reevaluate lifestyle in line with moral principles.

He said that there was need for every Nigerian to be given a sense of belonging and given access to education, healthcare and other social amenities.

He said that corruption especially misappropriation and embezzlement of funds meant for all is the root cause of insecurity.

Gumi said most bandits are forced into the crime for survival as they cannot afford basic necessities of life.

The cleric said that there was need to overhaul the security architecture of the country saying that about nine trillion has been spent on security since 2015, yet no security.

Earlier, the President of Vision Africa Bishop Sunday Onuoha who facilitated the round table said that the initiative was developed in collaboration with the KAICIID Dialogue Centre.

He said that the task was collaboratively deliberate on workable and effective strategies that are sensitive to the already fragile security state.

The bishop said that there was need to address the complexities and enhance collective peace via an assessment of laws and relevant legislations that can be improved upon or implemented.

”I will however, urge us all to concentrate on exceptional issues that are integral and common to us all, but especially to our young demographic; because the core essence of this is to give the younger generation hope, because whatever we do as leaders will rub-off on them.

“We have a young generation that is quickly losing hope in its leadership, and the concern is that if we don’t address these lingering issues now, no military might can manage the revolts of their collective frustrations.

“I am assured that our deliberations will be robust, and that your recommendations will embody the greater aspirations of the communities we represent, as we contribute our quota to posterity,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Obinna Unaeze

The Baro Port in Niger, has remained dormant and inaccessible since its inauguration four years ago by former President Muhammadu Buhari, a check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has revealed.

The port, located in Agaie Local Government Area, was constructed at the cost of N5.8 billion and has a quarry length of 150 metres, cargo stacking yard of 7,000 square metres, a transit shed of 3, 600 square metres and a capacity of 5,000 TEU at a time.

However, since its inauguration on Jan. 19, 2019, the Baro port has remained dormant, with no visible effort to utilise the facility.

An investor,  Alhaji Salau Kabaraini expressed disappointment with the state of affairs, saying it was a huge let down for the locals and Nigerians as a whole.

According to him, the port has no access road, as the road leading to the area remained dilapidated and inaccessible.

NAN gathered that the contract for the major access road to the port, the 53 kilometer Agaie-Katcha-Baro road, was awarded more than 13 years ago, but has remained on the drawing board because of non-release of funds.

He said that the administration of President Bola Tinubu should treat the project as a priority “because of its economic importance”.

Kabaraini said that the port has the capacity to create huge economic opportunities for Nigerians, “more so, as experts said it has the capacity to generate not less than 4,500 direct and indirect jobs”.

He said, “Bring this road back to life. I remember during the time of Nigeria’s founding fathers, produce like cotton, groundnut, hide and skin were transported from Kano through Baro port and exported overseas.

“I am interested in investing in Baro port. Since the commissioning of this port, one will think that by now there will be good roads to the port and flurry of economic activities, but unfortunately none.

“When you want to site an industry, one of the criteria to consider is access road and it’s not there.”

Mr Yusuf Mohammed, Unit Head, Marine Area Office, National Inland Waterways Authority, Minna, decried the condition of the road leading to the port, saying it has made their operation difficult.

“The road to the port is not pliable, when we went there recently it was not easy for us to get to the port because it is swampy during the rainy season,” he added.

A former Chairman of Agaie LGA, retired Capt. Hassan Baro, said that not only has the port remained dormant, but also inaccessible because of lack of road.

He appealed to the Federal Government to make the facility viable by not only building roads, but also a rail line and continuously dredging the River Niger to ensure unhindered movement of ships to the port.

“The operationalisation of Baro port would bring significant improvement to the nation’s economy. It is very unfortunate that such laudable project with all its potential benefits has been neglected,” the former LGA chairman said.

A stakeholder, retired Capt. Ibrahim Yahaya said a major bridge contract to link River Niger with Kwara River has also remained at a standstill.

According to him, the contract which was awarded in 2018, if completed, would facilitate movement of goods and services from the port to all parts of the country.

Yahaya said the project was designed to provide access road with standard bridge for movement of goods and services to all part of the country, which would have improved socio-economic activities of the people.

On his part, the Chairman, Baro Area Development Commission, Dr Liman Alhaji, said Niger Government was committed to partnering the federal government to activate the Baro port because of its immense economic benefits to the state and the nation.(NAN)

Edited by Mohammed Baba Busu/Maharazu Ahmed

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Ogbalu Pearl Chukwugozirim and Chidera Nwankwo have emerged over all winners at the 2023 Korean Language Speech and Writing Contest.

This is contained in a.statement issued in Abuja on thursday by the Director of Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Mr Kim Chang-gi.

He stated that for the Korean Language Speech Contest, Chukwugozirim emerged winner, Chidera Nwankwo clinched the second position and Ossai Joy Elo won the third position respectively.

Chang-gi noted that Chidera Nwankwo who came second in the speech contest category, also won the first prize for the writing contest.

He added that Eke Joy Onyinyechi and Franca-Frank Akaaza emerged second and third respectively on the writing contest category.

He said that the speech contest titled “Cities in Korea that I Want to Visit and the City I want to introduce’ and the writing contest had a title `Why Am I Learning Korean language and Culture?

According to Chang-gi, before now, the contest has been held only in Federal Capital Territory. Abuja.

“But this time, by conducting an online participation, many hidden Korean speakers living in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan and other states participated.

“In the speech contest, participants expressed their desire to visit various cities that they learned about through K-dramas, such as Busan, Jeju Island, Jinju, and Daegu.”

According to Korean cultural director, they have introduced the distinctive cities in their host country and further enriched the presentation.

“In particular, Beverly Otabor, a participant in the contest, said that she wanted to walk on the beach with the blue sea in Busan..

“Meanwhile in writing contest, Chidera, who won first place and second place in the speaking category, said that he started to study Korean language on his own in 2018.

“After that, he was able to learn more profound expressions of the Korean language through online` King Sejong Institute’ lectures.

“He said that he would like to take this opportunity to go to Korea and that he would like to study Korean more in the future,’’ Chang-gi said

He stated that Chukwugozirim started learning Korean language in December 2019, adding that she is a watcher of Korean dramas and enjoys learning leaning Korean ballads for some time.

“According to her, the language is very fascinating to her and she is in love with the pronunciations, expression and mannerisms.

“I study using textbooks and workbooks- mostly TTMIK, watching dramas often and listening to Korean music.

“I also occasionally watch BTS live broadcasts without subtitles and engage in calls with local speakers through applications.

“For winning this contest, I feel honoured. It honestly still feels like a dream and I’m yet to process it. I worked really hard, but I’m sure everyone else did as well, so I’m really grateful.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Segun Giwa

An NGO, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) have partnered to train magistrates and prosecutors on handling of gender-based violence cases.

Speaking at the training in Akure on Wednesday, WFD Country Director, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, said the GBV law would not be effective if those who were supposed to prosecute and pass judgment on related cases had no idea of the content.

Olorunmola said that his foundation would always support inclusiveness in any process it was involved in.

He said that the foundation had been supporting the state government from formulation of the bill to becoming a law as well as at implementation stage, which was very key to its overall success.

Olorunmola commended the state government for the seriousness it had attached to eliminating GBV, adding that many states indeed passed the law and celebrated it but were not implementing it.

“We need to see that prosecution is done diligently. We want people to know about the implementation of the law and that is why we have invited you (prosecutors and magistrates) here.

“We started the implementation 10 months ago and it has been a success. All we are going to do is to brainstorm, make do with implementation of VAPP Law and make it more efficient,” he said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of OSSA-GBV, Bolanle Afolabi, said that the impact of GBV was always on the survivors, family members and the government.

Afolabi, who reminded the participants about the huge funds being committed by government on the prosecution of offenders, urged them to disclose their challenges in order to move forward.

Also, a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Oluwumi Fayemi, shared some GBV cases she had come across and gave assurance that she would be an advocate at the plenary.

Fayemi, representing Ilaje Constituency II, however, pointed out that the cases were not peculiar to women but also men, urging all to support and ensure that GBV was eliminated in the state.

Also, a Political Scientist and Gender Expert, Prof. Bukola Osunyikanmi, described GBV as a global problem and not peculiar to the state and Nigeria.

Osunyikanmi noted that the most important aspect of getting justice for survivors was speaking out, adding that every case must be addressed anytime a victim spoke out.

“There should be justice and nothing like people saying event has overtaken reported cases of gender-based violence,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey and ‘Wale Sadeeq