NDPC trains over 50 journalists on Data Protection 

The National  Data  Protection  Commision  (NDPC) on Tuesday organised a capacity  building workshop for 50 Nigeria Information Technology Reporters (NITRA) in Lagos State.

The National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said that asides covering the activities  of the commission,  journalists  should be conscious of what was in it for them.

Olatunji  said that journalists,  while creating awareness  on the importance  of data protection ,  should also consider  a second career as Data Protection  Officer (DPO).

He said that the President had said that he would create one million digital jobs  but the NDPC alone would create 500,000 jobs in the digital space.

“With the high rate of unemployed youths,  this is a new job, a new sector contributing to the Gross Domestic  Products  (GDP) in the country

“In Nigeria, we are talking  about the data of 200 million people in the country and have over 500,000  data processors and controllers.

“Whereas those certified in data privacy are about 10,0000 leaving a gap of over 400,000,  which is really  dangerous.

“As agents, we want to protect  their data and their interests and the qualified DPOs are not up to 10,000; we do not have enough skills that would serve as data protection  experts.

“Journalist should think of having a second career in the sector and can work anywhere in the world,  go for further training and get certified,which does not have anything  to do with what one studied in the university.

“It is a whole new skill that is required, so what we are doing today is to introduce you to the subject matter,” he said.

He encouraged that the training  should be taken seriously.

He said that to make things easier, there was  a national certification body data for  privacy  in Nigeria because being certified  did  not refer to  competence.

Olatunji said that the commission  was happy  that it was  coming at this time and had learnt from the experience of others and as well as also made  own laws very flexible to actually legislate and  also catch up with basic technology.

According to him, job and wealth creation are  key to processing.

“That is what the commission  keeps saying  and very soon, the  portal will be opened for data  processors and data controllers in the world.”

The national commissioner said that the  target  was  to build a  globally competitive market in data protection  in Nigeria, with  journalists  as major stakeholders.

Olatunji  urged  journalists  to  take good opportunity  to join because it was  global, moreso, the same knowledge would be  passed in terms of objectives and principles.

According to him; the task of the commission  is huge and the commission  cannot do it alone.

“This  is where we need your cooperation, in the area of advocacy. We need you to help us create awareness of Data Protection.

“We want all of us to create awareness, advocate,  let citizens  know that something new is happening  in Nigeria and in Africa because we have the population,” he said.

Also, the President of NITRA,  Mr Chike  Onwuegbuchi,  while appreciating the commission for the capacity training, assured of continued  support from journalists.

Onwuegbuchi said that  the training  was insightful, timely and encouraged journalists to, while advocating  for  the commission, consider a second career in data protection.

The News Agency  of Nigeria  reports that NDPC is an impartial, independent regulatory Commision saddled with regulating data protection measures and promoting the deployment of technological and organisational safeguards to enhance personal data protection.