The federal government says the data privacy and protection ecosystem can generate more revenue for the ICT sector and consolidate economic diversification.

Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, said this at the second-anniversary dinner and awards night of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on Sunday night in Abuja.

The awards night was the climax of activities to mark the National Data Privacy Week, which was held between January 28 and February 4.

Represented by Faruk Yabo, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Tijani said the ICT sector in the second quarter of 2023 contributed 18.45 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product.

“With such a figure, which is the highest so far, it will be important that we continue to leverage that success to ensure the development of the sector.

“Data protection is part of the core of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and we hope that the sector can continue to contribute to the growth of our digital economy,’’ he said.

Earlier, the NDPC’s national commissioner, Vincent Olatunji, said that many responsibilities had been vested on the commission by the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) in 2023.

He said that in ensuring the implementation of the NDPA, the commission had come up with the Nigeria Data Protection Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (NDA-SRAP).

Mr Olatunji said the five pillars of the roadmap aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the mandates of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

He listed the pillars to include governance, which addressed the commission’s regulatory powers through actions and initiatives on enabling law data protection.

The national commissioner said others were human capital development, ecosystem and technology, cooperation and collaboration, and funding and sustainability.

He said notable progress had been made in the implementation of the act, adding, however, that a lot more needed to be done with support from relevant stakeholders.

Mr Olathnji assured that NDPA was committed to protecting data and ensuring compliance with Data Protection Organisations.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) received the award for `Most Compliant Organisation, while the Special Recognition Award was given to Lanre Gbajabiamila, the director-general of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission, among others.

(NAN)