Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed that securing Nigerians’ personal information online is a major concern for NITDA, as data remains a critical component of the Digital Economy.
Inuwa made the remarks while speaking on a panel at the Nigeria Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Inuwa, who was represented by Olufemi Daniel, stated that every moment spent on the Internet leaves personal data footprints on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.), allowing companies to profit from free services while also storing personal data of individuals.
According to study, the worth of individual personal data on digital platforms is around $12 per person, allowing technology corporations to make money.
“Data, which includes Metadata, is the lifeblood of the digital economy.” Global data in 2020 was 44 zettabytes, and by 2025, the globe is predicted to have 75 billion Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, he stated.
According to Section 6 (a, c) of the NITDA Act 2007, the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) was issued in January 2019. The regulation is Nigeria’s current national data protection law. It relates to the processing of personal data by the public and private sectors both inside and outside Nigeria.
“The rule aims to preserve the right to privacy, provide the correct atmosphere for digital transactions, create jobs, and improve information management practices in Nigeria,” he added.
The DG also stated that the Court of Appeal’s recent decision in the case of Incorporated Digital Lawyers vs National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) (CA/IB/291/2020) demonstrated that the judicial system has begun to recognize the importance of digital technology in modern life, particularly with the Court’s ruling that the NDPR is the National Law on Data Protection and Extension of Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Inuwa praised legal professionals’ efforts and encouraged them to stand on the precipice of history, noting that in every new historical revolution, a successful lawyer must be willing to learn, unlearn, and relearn in order to stay current, and that the legal profession cannot afford to fall behind in the digital economy.
