Safeguarding personal or government information has become imperative taking into cognizance the global phenomenon of undue invasion of privacy.
Recall that on June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed into law, Data Protection Bill as a legal framework to regulate rights of data processors with their subjects, safeguarding the unauthorised release of personal information.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, stated this while declaring open a-day sensitisation workshop, at MITROS Banquet Hall, Abeokuta
with the theme, “Data Protection Act Compliance – An Imperative for A Vibrant Digital Economy”, organised by Ogun Bureau of Information Technology (BIT), in partnership with National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Upperlink, for some selected government officials on data protection law, towards ensuring safety and regulatory compliance regarding all procedures in governance, as well as the citizenry.
Governor Abiodun explained that data protection had become a fundamental human right protocol, according to 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantee citizens’ right to privacy, saying that at the end of the workshop, no government officials should be liable for careless personal data processing, as well as strengthening legal foundation of national digital economy, among others.
He noted that the workshop aimed at creating awareness of its adoption, thereby educating data handlers on what is inherent in the law, as well as government officials against misuse of what was kept in their custody.
Represented by Special Adviser on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dayo Abiodun, the governor called on participants to gather necessary knowledge involved in data protection management, in line with global best practices, so as to train their subordinates at various offices, towards ensuring good governance in the state.
In his keynote address, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said data protection law would promote and strengthen security, guide against intrusion of privacy, noting that the best mechanism to educate civil servants, private organisations and individuals on data protection, was to start with educating government officials, to validate right to privacy, stipulated by Nigeria Data Protection law.
Dr. Olatunji, who commended the state government for being among the best digital compliance states in the federation, urged those at the helm of affairs to upscale to data policy ecosystem, in order to remain relevant in the world of digitalisation.
He called on state government to take advantage of free training by the federal government, hinting that 1,000 Nigerians across the nation would soon have access to free training, after which state governments would be sponsoring their officials.
Delivering his lecture titled, “Implementing Data Protection And Privacy in Public Sector”, Chief Executive Officer, Upperlink, Dr. Segun Akano, said data protection was germane to the state government, saying its implementation would oversee general data processing across the state, while entrusting confidence on every government transactions.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, who was a participant at the workshop, appreciated Governor Abiodun for promptly organising the workshop, which she noted would assist digitalisation in the health sector and avoid being liable to the Nigeria Data Protection law.
