By Praise Chinecherem
The Anambra state government says it’s partnering with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to intensify crackdown on internet hacking and identity theft.
The MD/CEO, Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata made the declaration during a courtesy visit on the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) Dr Vincent Olatunji.
According to Agbata, the move was part of the agency’s efforts to advance the State Government’s vision to ensure data privacy and protection for Anambra residents.
Among the key areas of cooperation discussed at the meeting included Citizens’ Awareness, where both organizations are looking at raising public consciousness around Data Protection and ensuring Data privacy for citizens, so as to reduce the scourge of hacking, identity theft and other ills that currently make online and offline presence a challenge in the country.
Both executives also discussed the importance of Capacity Building in order to get more more people trained on data protection as well as the need for public and private institutions in the state to engage the services of Data Protection Officers, DPOs, in compliance and monitoring, in line with the provisions of the Act establishing the NDPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, NDPR.
Both organizations are also looking to create new job openings and employment opportunities in areas such as Data Protection Officers (DPOs), Compliance Officers among others, as an initiative towards Youth Empowerment. This they envisaged, will enable the youths be better informed and empowered to setup innovative business around data protection and management.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Anambra State ICT Agency noted that data is the new oil, because of its strategic importance to planning across critical spheres of the economy.
He said, having underscored this, Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR has committed to accurate data sourcing and the protection of data, especially personal data, as an insurance that will enhance the prosperity of Ndi Anambra on the short run, as well as ensure that on a long run, more businesses flourish in the state.
According to CFA, the visit is to explore possible avenues of collaboration that will yield in accurate data sourcing for the state, which will in turn, prove resourceful for the Commission in national planning.
In his response, the NDPC National Commissioner, Dr Olatunji promised to support Anambra State through the ICT Agency, in its plan to make the state a technology-driven state.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a copy of the Data Protection Act – 2023 to the MD/CEO of the Anambra ICT Agency by the NDPC National Commissioner, who was too excited to partner with the State.
