Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has urged journalists covering ICT sector, under the aegis of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) to take advantage of the opportunities inherent in the National Data Protection sector.
Dr. Olatunji made this call during a capacity building workshop organised by the National Data Protection Commission for members of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), held on Tuesday in Lagos.
The national commissioner noted that the sector is a job creating sector, he thereby urged members of the media covering the activities of the commission to be conscious of the opportunities inherent for them.
He stated that journalist while creating awareness on the importance of Data protection should also consider a second career as Data Protection Officers (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 digital space.
According to him, “with the high rate of unemployed youths, this is a new job area. A new sector contributing to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in the country.
“In Nigeria we are talking about the data of 200m people in the country and have over 500,000 Data processors and controllers.
“Whereas those certified in data privacy are about 100,000 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 skilled manpower 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, get certified which does not have anything to do with what one studied in the university,” he said.
According to him, “it is a whole new skill that is required so what we are doing today is to introduce you to the subject matter”.
He encouraged that the training should be taken seriously, noting that it has introduced a national certification body to make it easier for those who would like to become Data Processing Officers (DPOs).
He noted further that certifications alone does not confer to competence because the holder needs to learn more on the job.
Olatunji said that the Commission is happy that it is coming at this time and have learnt from the experience of others and also made its own laws very flexible to actually legislate and also catch up with basic technology.
According to him, Job and wealth creation is key to processing, that is what the commission keep saying and very soon portal will be opened for data processors and data controllers in Nigeria.
The National commissioner, said that the target is to build a globally competitive mark in data protection in Nigeria and that it has recognised journalists as a major stakeholder.
Olatunji said the journalists should take good opportunity to join because it is global and the same knowledge is passed in terms of objectives, principles.
He said that although peculiarities in terms of challenges; ecosystem levels of intellectual development, the level of Data protection literacy is being considered.
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, let citizens know that something new is happening in Nigeria and in Africa because we have the population’’.
Mr Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman of NITRA 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 while advocating for the commission, should consider a second career in Data processing.
