By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The Federal Government has urged African countries to collaborate on the protection of data on the continent and beyond.

Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, said this at the 8th edition of conference of Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) in Abuja.

The Federal Government used the occasion to inaugurate the Nigeria Virtual Privacy Academy aimed at deepening data protection initiatives.

The three-day conference has as its theme: “Balancing Innovation, in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies.”

It drew participants from no fewer than 30 African countries, Europe, Asia, Middle East and the U.S.

Represented by Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Shettima said the journey to data privacy began when African Charter was domesticated in 1983.

He said it was domesticated in Nigeria through the 1999 constitution.

He said the the conference was a testament to the progressive nature of the Nigeria’s legal framework for data protection.

According to him, the government remains committed to the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.

The VP said that data was not just a digital resource but a human story told in numbers, which serves as a tool to build economic trust.

“As the Africa continent expands the scale of its African exchange, our ability to share data securely and lawfully will define our capacity to thrive.

“That is why forums like this are not only welcome but essential, they offer us the chance to cross-pollinate ideas, to nurture human capital, and to strengthen mechanisms for mutual legal assistance.

“They allow us to create an African consensus on data governance that respects our people and reflects our values, ” he said.

He called on the participants at the conference to utilise the opportunity to shape the right strategies for Africa in the area of data privacy.

Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, inaugurated the Nigeria Virtual Privacy Academy.

The academy is part of government’s initiative towards harnessing the benefits of a digital economy.

Tijani said the academy was aimed at delivering virtual training in data protection and privacy across both the public sector and the private sector.

“Recognising the opportunities across our continent, we have also set up a digital trade desk, a one-stop platform to promote Nigeria’s need to export, while unlocking global market opportunities for tech-enabled businesses.

“To fully harness the benefits of this and other initiatives, we see data as the backbone and digital protection as the shield.

“As we digitise government services, open up digital trade corridors, and advance the need for digital identity on the platform, we must ensure that our value chains are secure, fair, and transparent,” he said.

According to him, it offers Nigerians access to practical training on data protection principles and easy cyber identity.

The Chairperson of NADPA, Mr Iro Adamou, said the primary goal of NADPA was to foster collaboration among members and amplify African voices in its interaction with global partners in data protection.

Represented by Mrs Immaculate Kassiat, the NADPA Vice President, Adamou reiterated that the protection of personal data was a shared responsibility across all African countries.

“Human beings, regardless of gender, share common characteristics and it is necessary to safeguard, preserve their rights of personal data in this evolving digital landscape.

“Our presence in Abuja serves as a testament to the unity and shared aspiration of Africa and together we are committed to advancing towards a trustworthy digital environment that safeguards the privacy of individuals,” he said.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of NDPC, said Nigeria was focused on enabling a future-proof regulatory environment that supports innovation and advances data protection.

“We have carried out over 5,047 compliance assessments, about 223 investigations, and 12 different organisations from different sectors have gone through remediation.

“In terms of revenue to government, within less than two years, we were able to generate over $1.2 million to government in terms of registration fee, audit filing fee, and compliance fee.

“On the part of data controllers and processors, we have established, collaborated with data protection authorities across Africa and signed Memorandums of Understanding,” he said.

He said that NADPA would continue to evolve as a central platform for continental data governance.

“I urge all member states who are yet to enact a data protection legislation, to do so without delay as strong data protection laws are not barriers to innovation, but enablers of inclusive digital economy.”

Mr Gautier Mignot, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by Ms Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Green and Digital Economy pledged EU’s continued support towards policies that promoted better frameworks in Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NADPA was established in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in September 2016, at a side event to the African forum on personal data protection. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Uche Anunne