DATA PROTECTION PROGRAMME: LAGOS TAKES SENSITISATION CAMPAIGN TO MDAs 

The Data Protection team from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Public Service Standards and Performance (PSSP) team have taken their sensitisation and awareness campaign exercise to 22 MDAs in the 1st and 2nd phases of the programme. 

A release signed by the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry, Mrs. Bola Akingbade said the project started with 14 strategically chosen MDAs that deal with a lot of personal data in the 1st Phase of the exercise, adding that representatives of the selected MDAs have gone through Data Protection, Audit, Compliance and Monitoring training. 

She started further that eight additional MDAs chosen in the 2nd Phase of the Project have also gone through Sensitisation and Awareness training on Data Protection. 

In her words: “The Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) was introduced by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on January 25th, 2019, to regulate the processing of Personal Data by Private and Public Organisations in Nigeria”.  

While noting that compliance with the NDPR is now compulsory for any organisation that processes personal data, Akingbade averred that the Lagos State Government also recognises that data is today one of the most valuable resources for businesses and governments to thrive, and the responsibilities around its privacy and protection are among the biggest challenges. 

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had, in 2021, set up a Steering Committee on Data Governance and Privacy to oversee the implementation of the Data Protection programme across the workforce, to ensure that the State complies with the Data Protection regulations. The 12-man Committee is headed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) and has the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola as a member. 

Recall that the co-coordinating Ministry for the Implementation of the Data Protection Programme is the Ministry of Science & Technology, while the Public Service Standards & Performance (PSSP) in the Office of the Head of Service is responsible for monitoring and compliance for the programme.