‘Data To Create Massive Jobs For Nigeria’

The National Commissioner of Nigerian Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) Dr. Vincent Olatunji has said that the Nigeria digital economy sector can create massive jobs, stressing that the data component of digital ecosystem can create about 500,000 jobs and add value to the nation’s GDP.

The National Commissioner made this known, when he delivered his opening address at the capacity building workshop on data protection and privacy for journalists under the umbrella of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association(NITRA) Abuja chapter, which was held at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Kubwa, Abuja on Friday.

He said that with the establishment of the NDPB, the country is well-positioned in the global best practices on data protection and privacy ecosystem. He added that the Bureau had embarked on massive awareness and enlightenment in order for journalists to see the inherent potential in this sector, adding that Nigeria needs to be prepared to be relevant in the current digital economy.

Although the Nigeria digital protection bill is still waiting to be passed into law by the Nigerian National Assembly, Olatunji explained the importance of data protection and privacy, which is increasingly becoming a global best practice, even as he pointed out that there are subsidiary regulations against breach of data privacy.

He said “In our last survey we have over 500,000 digital controllers and processors in Nigeria and the law said that each controller must have Data Protection Officer (DPO), who are certified people with knowledge about data protection and privacy to assist their organisations and advise them on data policy and protection so that they don’t run foul of the law.”

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He said however, that there are a shortage of DPOs who are less than 10,000, stressing that there is a huge gap of 490,000 DPOs, which present opportunities for jobs for those willing to take up the training and skills and be certified as DPOs. He added that once certified, the DPO can work both within and outside Nigeria in various sectors such as banking, insurance, schools among others.

He noted that the government has embarked on mechanism to certify about 50,000 Nigerians as DPOs every year, adding that over 10,000 jobs have been created by the Bureau within two years following the a productive model it adopted in the ecosystem.

Head of the legal unit of the Bureau, Babatunde Bamigboye during his presentation, said the data protection and privacy is paramount because it ensures confidentiality and integrity of individuals data. He added that data there are 35 countries in Africa that have already passed data protection acts.