FG Launches Online Data Protection Academy to Boost Digital Safety in Nigeria

The Nigerian government has started a new online school called the Data Protection Virtual Academy. This school was created to help improve digital security in the country. It will teach people how to keep their personal and work information safe online.

This project is led by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC). The goal is to offer training on data protection and privacy to three main groups of people:

Government workers (civil servants),

Employees in private companies,

Nigeria’s Focus on Data Privacy

The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, was represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President. He said the government is working hard to mix innovation with data privacy, especially as new technologies are being used in the country.

Shettima said Nigeria has made good progress in data protection. This progress is recognized around the world. He said it shows that when a country respects people’s privacy and rights, positive changes can happen.

He added that the country has come a long way since the NDPR (Nigeria Data Protection Regulation) started in 2019. Also, when President Bola Tinubu took office, he quickly signed the NDPA (Nigeria Data Protection Act) into law within two weeks.

Shettima said:

“We are following global human rights rules. Our data protection work is now part of the government’s top eight priorities.”

Why This Academy Matters for Workers
The training from the new academy will help workers and job seekers understand how to avoid data leaks and protect sensitive information. It will also help them move safely in today’s digital world. In the long run, this will help Nigeria build a strong, competitive workforce.

Stronger Data Protection in Africa

The National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, talked about how important it is for African countries to work together on data protection. He said that if different African data agencies join forces, they can build a stronger and more trusted digital future.

Olatunji said:

“I believe this conference will help shape a strong and trustworthy digital future for Africa. The Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) must keep growing as a central hub for managing data across the continent.”

This African network was started in September 2016 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Its main job is to help African countries work together and use similar rules to protect data.

Dealing with Data Breaches from Big Companies

As part of efforts to improve data protection, the NDPC said it is trying to work together with companies to solve data issues. Recently, the Commission began discussions with Meta Platforms Inc. (owners of Facebook and WhatsApp) about a serious data breach.

During a training event for data protection officers in Abuja, Olatunji explained that the NDPC doesn’t want to cause conflicts. Instead, they want to work with companies to fix problems.

He said:

“Our new method is partnership. We want to solve problems by talking and working together. We don’t want to throw away what is good. We just want to make things right.”

Meta had threatened to leave Nigeria after the Commission ordered them to pay a $220 million fine for breaking data privacy rules. They were also told to pay an extra $35,000 to cover the cost of the investigation.

Peter Cholakov2 weeks ago