Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), reveals that in less than two years, NITDA has reached several milestones, while recording unprecedented achievements in the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
According to him, by implementing NDPR, NITDA has been able to license 70 Data Protection Compliance Organizations, (DPCO); create over 2,686 new jobs roles in the industry, and also develop a new data protection sector valued at over 2 million naira.
He disclosed this at a webinar themed, “Personal Data Protection and Cybersecurity,” hosted by Africa Data Protection Conclave. The program was tailored towards bringing together the leading African nations within the data protection and cybersecurity space.
He noted that before the issuance of the General Data Protection Regulation by the European Union (EU), NITDA had a clear and focused perspective about data privacy and protection.
“The NITDA Act 2007 empowers us to develop guidelines for electronic governance and monitor the use of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic communication transactions as an alternative to paper-based methods in government, commerce, education, the private and public sectors, labor, and other fields, where the use of electronic communication may improve the exchange of data and information,” he said.
He explained that the NITDA approach is to open opportunities for talented youths to harness data, the most valuable resource in the global digital economy.
Speaking further, he said, “NITDA has remitted the sum of over N15 million to Federal Government consolidated revenue account from DPCO licensing and Audit report filing; issued 230 compliance and enforcement notices; initiated and deposited 8 data breach cases with the Police and resolved over 790 issues.
“The Agency has also successfully investigated and issued a data breach fine on a public institution making it the first and only data breach fine in Africa for 2020, issued a Guidelines on Use of Personal Data by Public Institutions, 2020, launched the NDPR Portal for filing of audit reports and reporting of breaches; and issued the NDPR Implementation Framework 2020.”
Featured Image: Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General, NITDA
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