The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Vincent Olatunji, led staff of the Commission on a strategic working visit to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, at his office, where the Minister of State, Dr Suwaiba Said Ahmad, was also present.

Dr Olatunji commended Dr Alausa for his warm reception. While reiterating the importance of data, he noted that the significance of data protection and privacy cannot be overemphasised as Nigeria moves towards an economy powered by digital technologies, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He gave an overview of the ecosystem and highlighted some benefits of compliance, including global acceptance, among many others.

Dr Olatunji emphasised that the level of compliance in the educational sector is low. He highlighted some of the initiatives of the Commission aimed at creating awareness in the sector, including the Digital Privacy Awareness Campaign, Data Privacy Clubs in universities, the Secondary School Data Challenge, as well as reaching about 8,000 students through the Adopt-A-School initiative during National Privacy Week. He urged the Honourable Minister to use his good office to ensure compliance in the sector.

In his remarks, Dr Alausa commended Dr Olatunji for his passion for data protection and privacy. He stated that data protection has been treated with levity and that it is high time all Ministries, Departments and Agencies prioritised it. He reiterated President Tinubu’s vision of producing 50 million digitally literate citizens and noted that data protection should be included. He suggested improved awareness and gave assurances of compliance within the education sector.

Dr Olatunji, on behalf of the NDPC, offered free induction training for staff of the Ministry, as well as Virtual Privacy Academy (VPA) vouchers and consideration for the free certification programme, and a working group was formed to implement the next steps.