The Minister of Communication, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has appealed to African leaders to step up their data protection procedures across borders.
According to him, those are necessary requirements for developing a strong, dependable and sustainable digital economy.
He made this appeal recently at the First African Data Protection Conclave where he delivered the keynote address virtually.
Pantami disclosed that the National Digital Economy Policy Strategy was borne out a need for data protection which has many facets- developmental regulation, digital skills, solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services, soft infrastructure, digital society, emerging technologies and indigenous content creation and promotion.
“We need to ensure that nations build their data infrastructure, mining and security to the highest level because this will be the industry of the future to generate economic growth and build wealth,” he said.
Commenting at the virtual event also is the Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who emphasised the part the agency played in developing the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation modelled after the global General Data Protection Regulation.
He explained: “Although our Data Protection came a bit late, so far we have achieved several milestones and have recorded unprecedented achievements when it comes to compliance.
“Our model is unique because we also appointed data compliance organisations like Taxaide Technologies Limited.”
He also made it clear that NITDA’s topmost priority is to make data accessible to Nigerian youths, having discovered that access to data is the key ingredient to ensuring economic growth as it provides business solutions.
While delivering his own address, the Managing Director/CEO of Taxaide Technologies Limited (Taxtech), Mr. Bidemi Olumide, also the host of the Africa Data Protection Conclave, said:
“We believe this event is testament to the fact that Africa is ready to take its place in the global conversation on data protection and cybersecurity and we look forward to the future editions of the Africa Data Protection Conclave which is billed to be an annual event.”
Present at the event were over 25 speakers from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and Uganda among other African countries.
Some of the high-profile individuals that graced the event were the Ms. Alice Namuli Blazevic, Associate Partner at Katende, Ssempebwa and Company, Uganda; Mr Pansy Tlakula, the Chairperson Information Regulator, South Africa; the Human Rights Adviser in Charge of African Union Matters, Mr. Chafi Bakari; the ICT Policy and Project Manager, Africa Union, Mr. Auguste Yankey; the Senior Associate, Hogan Lovells, France, Aissatou Sylla; the Associate Partner at Katende, Ssempebwa and Company, Uganda; Justice Obafemi Adamson of the Lagos State Judiciary and the Partner AO2LAW, Mr. Oyeyemi Oke, amongst a host of high-level dignitaries.
Featured Image: dailytrust.ng
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