With the rising tribe of netizens and businesses moving online owing to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for presidential backing and the political will for effective and sustainable data protection regulation has been emphasised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
ATCON President, Mr Olusola Teniola, in an interview with The Daily Times explained that data protection is a multi-stakeholder challenge that requires presidential backing and political will to implement because of the myriad of problems confronting the country, stating that the National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA)would require all the support it needs to make it work.
Teniola further stated that effective implementation of data protection; Nigeria needs Standard Data Compliance Organisations and Data Protection Officers, introduction of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Data Science, Analytics and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to protect personal data.
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He said local data warehousing and hosting along international standards and best practices should also, be enforced and finally ongoing public awareness through various media channels need to happen.
“It is going to be a challenge for any agency to effectively enforce any regulation that they do not have direct oversight. Data Protection is a multi-stakeholder challenge and multi-sectoral scoped that will require Presidential backing and the political will to enforce, considering the many multi-faceted problems faced by the country. NITDA will require every assistance to make this regulation effective and sustainable,” he said.
Earlier, Teniola described data as the new gold which must be treated accordingly, adding that ATCON had embarked on the awareness and implementation of the data protection regulation because of its strategic importance to its members’ businesses and to reduce or prevent cybercrimes by ensuring the safety and protection of Nigerians digital details on the world wide web as the failure to give adequate protection to data could be very devastating and costly to individuals and businesses.
“As members of ATCON, an umbrella body of all telecom professionals in Nigeria, it is our duty to implement the Data Protection Regulation. As we all know the Regulation is aimed at protecting and guarantying the safety of all users of the web from the unscrupulous people who use their knowledge to defraud and cheat people who are genuinely transacting business over different websites (public and private),” he added.
Meanwhile, in a phone chat with our correspondent, Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations at the National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA), Hajia Hadiza Umar, says NITDA will leave no stone unturned to ensure there is effective data protection regulation.
To this end, Umar said 70 Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DCPOs) had been licensed by NITDA to train, audit, consult and render services aimed at ensuring compliance with data regulation.
By Ladesope Ladelokun
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