The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has officially launched the Data Protection Virtual Academy.
This commission recently revealed that the initiative will go a long way towards aiding digital security across both the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the unveiling that happened during the opening ceremony of the 8th Edition of the Network of Data Protection Authorities Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani, described the feat as a global first.
He revealed that the academy will guarantee virtual training on data protection and privacy, adding that it’ll target private sector workers, unemployed youths, and civil servants.
“It is therefore my honour to formally launch the Data Protection Virtual Academy, a bold and innovative step towards building a digitally secure and globally competitive workforce for Nigeria.
The academy that is being launched today offers every Nigerian, from civil servants to private sector employees, to young job seekers, access to practical training on data protection principles and basic cyber hygiene,” he said.
Also speaking, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, reiterated the government’s readiness to combine innovation and data privacy protection to prolong Nigeria’s data protection journey.
According to him, the country’s data protection framework is already recognised worldwide as one of the most progressive, and that is mainly because the nation has always committed itself to privacy and digital transformation.
“Nigeria’s journey in data protection has been an evolving narrative of progress, proof that when a nation commits itself to privacy and dignity, transformation follows.
We reassert our alignment with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Our data protection ecosystem is now directly tied to the delivery of the eight presidential priorities of this administration,” he said.
National Commissioner of NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, also advocated for more partnerships among African data protection authorities to build an efficient and reliable digital future for Africa as a whole.
“I am optimistic that the outcomes of this conference will further shape a resilient and trusted African Digital future. NADPA must continue to evolve as a central platform for continental data governance,” Olatunji added.
