Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that African economies will thrive when the continent is able to lawfully share secured data.
He sated this in Abuja, Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 8th edition of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA), with the theme, “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies” and the official launch of the Nigerian Virtual Privacy Academy (NVPA).
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, the vice president noted that the African economy will thrive when Africa can lawfully share secured data.
“We recognise that data is not merely a digital resource.It is a human story told in numbers. It is the fabric of trust in our economies. It is the currency of reliability in our institutions.
And as the African continental Future “Agreement expands the scale of its African exchange, our ability to share data securely and lawfully will define our capacity to thrive,” he said.
On the importance of the conference, he stated that such fora were not only welcome but essential, adding that they offer the chance to cross-pollinate ideas, to nurture human capital, and to strengthen mechanisms for mutual legal assistance.
He also spoke on the legal framework of NDPC, noting that “Nigeria’s legal framework for data protection is globally recognised as one of the most progressive.
According to the VP, “through it, we reassigned our alignment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. More importantly, our data protection ecosystem is now directly tied to the debris of the eight presidential priorities of this administration.
”In his addresses, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani said “Nigeria is fully committed to a future where technological progress is both inclusive and a right perspective.
“ As we digitise government services, open up digital trade corridors, and advance the need for digital identity on the platform, we must ensure that our value chains are secure, fair, and transparent.
In his welcome address, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, welcomed dignitaries, heads of Data Protection Authorities, stakeholders, and over 2,000 participants from around the world to the event.
The Chairperson of NADPA-RAPDP, Iro Adamou, represented by the Kenyan Data Protection Commissioner, Ms Immaculate Kassit, also delivered the opening speech.
Dignitaries who delivered goodwill messages included the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Umar Abubakar Tafida; the Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande; the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuiab Salisu; the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot; and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther.Also present at the occasion was the Managing Director/CEO of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Honourable Lanre Gbajabiamila; the Director of Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), Commissioner of Police Uche Ifeanyi Henry, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, multinationals, exhibitors, startups, as well as stakeholders from the private sector, amongst others.
