Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijani has said that Data privacy is not just a matter of convenience, but a fundamental human right, and therefore, people should be careful about the data they generate and what it is being used for.
Speaking recently at the opening ceremonies of a 2-day sensitization workshop organized by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in Abuja, the minister said as the country embraces the digital age, personal and sensitive information of her citizens must be maintained under the eyes of confidentiality.
Tijani said the government is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian can trust the digital platforms that they use, knowing that their data will not be misused.
“To achieve this, we are taking proactive steps to strengthen our data protection framework as evident in the setting up of NDPC. We are working with stakeholders including the national assembly to enact robust data Protection laws that are aligned with international standards.
“This involves holding organisations accountable for how they collect and process data. We will also normalise the culture of transparency among our citizens so that everyone is fully aware of how their data is used. We will collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure everyone is being aware of their rights and how they can protect their digital identity,” the minister said.
While insisting that this is not the responsibility of the government alone, the minister charged every Nigerian to ensure that everyone understands the value of their data and how they can protect themselves.
“As data Protection officers and MDAs, we must be responsible for this as you are the faces citizens interact with. We must model what we want to see in the society. The digital economy is an era of growth and innovation that requires us to nurture it.
“The President is interested in the power of the digital economy. As we encourage the development of innovative technology, we should also prioritize the implementation of stronger data security and protection as well,” he said.
The minister emphasized that data privacy and protection conversation should go beyond technicalities, noting that they should become values that everybody holds and upholds strongly, and added that as the country builds an inclusive and prosperous digital future by fostering a collective culture of responsible data handling, she should also ensure her citizens’ personal information is managed responsibly and also secured.
He assured of his commitment to this and appealed that all should join hands to work towards a Nigeria where everyone’s data is protected and secured.
“As we mainstream the use of technology, not everyone in our society knows how to manage their data. People are coming on more on social media, and the sharing of indiscriminate messages on social media shouldn’t be.
“We continue to push and enlighten our citizens to protect their data. We also ask that you join us on this journey to protect the data of our citizens,” the minister concluded.