In a bold move to empower Nigeria’s youth and promote digital safety, PalmPay has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to launch the Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training (YDPAT) Program, a national initiative aimed at equipping over one million young Nigerians with critical digital knowledge and data protection skills over the next three years.
The initiative, which was formally launched last week at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, underscores PalmPay’s growing commitment to not only safeguarding user data but also fostering digital literacy among the country’s youth population, which accounts for over 70% of the national demographic.
Speaking at the launch, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, commended PalmPay’s partnership in the actualisation of the program and described YDPAT as a bold step toward building a digitally literate and security-conscious generation.
“This is about building a privacy-first generation, one that is inclusive, future-facing, and globally competitive,” he said, and emphasised the low awareness of the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023 and the critical shortage of certified Data Protection Officers (DPOs), despite over 500,000 data controllers operating in the country.
This position was equally supported by PalmPay’s Managing Director, Mr Chika Nwosu, who not only stated how data protection is as important as innovation in tech but noted that PalmPay integrates privacy into every stage of its product development, ensuring that user information is safe.
Beyond ensuring data protection, PalmPay is committed to empowering young Nigerians with real opportunities for growth, with mentorship and internship placements for top-performing participants.
It has led several youth-oriented initiatives, including the Purple Woman campaign, and Passing the Baton CSR for thousands of youths and women in urban and rural communities.
With a drive to achieve nationwide digital literacy, PalmPay is championing campaigns in Northern Nigeria, with more activations planned across various states.
