A Data Protection Compliance Organisation, T&Y Information Management, on Tuesday emphasized the need to follow-up the passage of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 with intense public sensitization.
Mr Tokunbo Smith, the Principal Consultant of the organisation, said in Lagos that the sensitization would be to educate the masses on the Act’s importance.
Smith said that his organisation was spearheading a sensitization on the importance of the Act to schools, markets, and places of worship.
He said that the sensitization would be to teach the average Nigerian the need to keep their data private, and report any misuse of their personal information.
The Nigeria Data Protection Bill 2023 was passed into law on June 12 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This move was widely applauded by many experts and organizations across the country.
“This Act has laid a foundation for a more transparent and accountable data ecosystem, and will restore trust and confidence in the digital age.
“The Act marks a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards safeguarding the privacy and security of citizens in the digital ecosystem.
“However, we are concerned that Nigerians do not yet understand the import of this Act.
“Traders are vulnerable to misuse of personal information, hence the need to educate them.
“Apart from market places, places of worship are also usually victims of breach of data privacy,’’ he said.
According to the expert, the importance of the Act cannot be overstated because data has become the life blood of the economy.
Smith urged other individuals and corporate entities to embark on sensitization, so everyone could benefit from the Act.
He said that the need to establish robust safeguards had never been more urgent, and urged all Nigerians to embrace this new era of data protection.
He added that Nigerians must recognize that privacy was a fundamental human right and by safeguarding personal data, the society would also be safeguarded.
The expert noted further that with the data protection act, the foundation had been laid for a more transparent and accountable data ecosystem that restores trust and confidence in the digital age.
