PalmPay has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to launch the Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training (YDPAT) Programme, which equips over 1,000,000 Nigerian youths digitally over three years.
It said the training programme, started last week at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, was part of its commitment to data protection and youth empowerment.
The training will focus on providing youths with the right knowledge and skills required to navigate the digital landscape safely. It added that, with over 70 per cent of the Nigerian population consisting of youths, it was a crucial move to foster trust, security, and youth-focused innovation.
Speaking at the launch, the minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, commended PalmPay’s partnership in the actualisation of the programme and described YDPAT as a bold step toward building a digitally literate and security-conscious generation.
To him, “this is about building a privacy-first generation that is inclusive, future-facing, and globally competitive.” He also emphasised the low awareness of the Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023 and the critical shortage of certified Data Protection Officers (DPOs), despite over 500,000 data controllers operating in the country.
This position was equally supported by PalmPay’s managing director, Chika Nwosu, who stated how data protection was as important as innovation in tech, noting that PalmPay integrated privacy into every stage of its product development, ensuring that user information was safe.
Beyond ensuring data protection, PalmPay said it was committed to empowering young Nigerians with real opportunities for growth, mentorship and internship placements for top-performing participants. With a drive to achieve nationwide digital literacy, PalmPay said it was championing campaigns in Northern Nigeria, with more activations planned across various states.
