The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is leading by example for being the first agency of government in Nigeria to implement a major aspect of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, NDPR provision by launching the NDPR compliant visitor’s book today in Abuja.

The launching of the booklet was performed by the Director General of the Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, shortly after the agency’s first staff meeting of the year 2022 was concluded with all staff in attendance either physically or virtually, for those outside the headquarters on official assignments, zonal offices or on leave.

According to Inuwa; “NITDA is statutorily mandated by the NITDA Act of 2007 to, inter alia; develop regulations for electronic governance and monitor the use of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic communication transactions as an alternative to paper-based methods in government, commerce, education, the private and public sectors, labour and other fields, where the use of electronic communication may improve the exchange of data and information.”

He said; “recognizing that many public and private bodies have migrated their respective businesses and other information systems online, information solutions in both the private and public sectors now drive service delivery in the country through digital systems. These information systems have thus become critical information infrastructure that must be safeguarded, regulated, and protected against atrocious breaches.”

“Data protection applies to all transactions intended for the processing of Personal Data, notwithstanding how the data processing is being conducted or intended to be conducted in respect of natural persons in Nigeria’’, the Director-General said during the unveiling.

He stated that organisations in Nigeria were caught scrambling to comply with the NDPR when it was launched in 2019. “Most organisations especially Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) are finding it difficult to comply with some of the basic requirements of the regulation due to financial constraints,” he added.

NITDA Director-General disclosed that a recent study has revealed that many Nigeria public institutions and small business owners are still confused by the rules around data protection and privacy regulations. “Disturbingly, out of 30 surveyed, 100% confirmed their paper visitors’ books are not confidential and do not protect the visitors’ personal data. Another 98% admitted they do not dispose of paper visitor books securely and confidentially – leaving the personal data of millions of employees and customers at risk,’’ he added.  

He categorically explained that when putting NDPR procedures in place, it’s very likely that many organisations did so with one big misconception that the new law only affects data collected online. The NDPR is technology-agnostic. It applies to all acts of personal data collection and processing, no matter how and where it takes place, visitor data, employee personal data, etc.

Inuwa submitted that the Data Services Protection Limited (DSPL) patented visitor’s book was selected amongst the most innovative NDPR product at 2021 Privacy Week organised by NITDA. The visitor’s book pages are duplicates and works by making personal data details on the visitor’s book invisible on the first page while capturing the data on the duplicate page. This basic but ingenious visitor’s book is cheap in comparison with the expensive digital visitor’s management solutions.

He, however, noted that the visitor’s book is an addition to the processes of computing the visitor’s data electronically.

Among the highlights of the staff meeting was the presentation of a plaque of recognition to the staff of the quarter Mr. Peter Chucks Emapo, a staff of the e-Government Training Center, Kubwa, Abuja, by the Director-General.

The Editorial Team of Africa’s pioneer specialised IT Media DigiVation Global Network has presented it’s esteem DigiVation Man of the Year Award to the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Pantami at his office in Abuja.

Intimating the Honourable Minister of his emergence the Editor in Chief Hilary Damissah praised the efforts and initiatives of the Minister and the gains recorded which according to him have given Nigeria some competitive bargain in the innovation and Information Communications industry. He added that “Pantami choice was based on his unparalleled leadership in growing the Nigerian digital enterprise and innovation”.

The President and Chairman of DigiVation Editorial Board, Dr Bayero Agabi highlighted that the Honourable Minister has demonstrated leadership and commitment to repositioning the Nigeria digital economy sector to now become the poster boy of the economy.

In his response the Honourable Minister expressed his gratitude to the Management of DigiVation Global Network and the organisation’s contributions to nation building. He assured that the recognition will further spur him and his team to continue to do better. The award instituted four years ago has had four previous winners with the first being Austin Okere founder Computer Warehouse Group, followed by Dr Akwasi Agyeman Executive Director/CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority, while from East Africa the only woman to have won it was Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire and for 2021, DigiVation Global Network announced the award winner as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Patami as the DigiVation Man of the Year.

Accordingly to the foremost IT media organisation, the emergence of the relentless Pantami was arrived at through a rigorous research process carried out by our team of reporters and industry stakeholders to name him as the eventual winner.

Digivation Global Network is a multimedia organization with interest in content production, events across Africa, Europe and America. DigiVation has also huge online media presence, radio and television with well over 100 awards . It’s the only media and tech outfit to have won the prestigious United Nations Economic Commission for Africa /Africa Information Society Merit Award twice for balance report and research.

Africa most celebrated ICT journalist and President of the Center for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD), Dr Bayero Agabi has hailed 2021 as the year the Information and Communications Technology industry witnessed many first for individuals and corporate organisations.

Speaking for himself, he said he personally experienced another first in 2021 with the successful induction into the fellowship cadre of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) last month at this year’s National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA)

Nigeria Computer Society had bestowed on Dr, Bayero a Honourary Fellowship, which is the highest for any professional attainment for his distinguished personality, dedication and exemplary service to IT growth and development in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, going by the policies and direction of the present government with regards to ICT development, Dr. Bayero has predicted the industry will in 2022 witness double of what it witnessed in 2021.
In his own words: “Considering what I see today with regards to IT development, Africa will soon have a loud voice in tech and innovation just like music and entertainment has done. Just watch, ICT growth in 2022 will double what we witnessed in 2021.”

The Nigerian information and communications technology (ICT) sector had contributed a significant 17.92% of Nigeria’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2021. This is a 3.01% increase from the GDP contributions for the preceding quarter, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

But Dr, Bayero believes the year 2022 will experience significant increase with regards to ICT contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. He laced his argument on the fact that the licensing and auctioning of 3.5 Ghz spectrum for 5G deployment, where Nigeria is expected to receive $546m will hugely boost the economic fortune of the country.

Other areas Bayero believes will experience massive is Fintech, where young Nigerians are chopping out cutting-edge technology solutions that are addressing the financial needs of Nigerians, especially the unbanked and under banked.

Dr. Bayero Agabi is one of the very few in the ICT industry, who has in the last twenty years make sure the telecom industry become what it is today by various advocacy.
He is known as one of Africa’s leading ICT broadcast journalists and remains the only African journalist to have won the prestigious UNECA/AISI (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa/Africa Information Society Media Awards) twice for best African ICT reporting, research and local content.
Agabi is a member of the national committee on data harmonization, member National Broadband Council and member senate cyber security expert advisory group. Agabi is the Vice President of Nigeria Internet Group and President Centre For Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD).
A Pan African advocate for digital economy, Bayero Agabi pioneered technology broadcasting on television in Nigeria over two decades ago with well over 100 local and international awards to his credit. An alumnus of PAU, UNIJOS, LASU and Commonwealth University, Bayero has transverse the world reporting and speaking on ICTand technology issues as it relates to Africa development.
With a degree in Mass Communication, a diploma in Computer Science, PGD, Public Admin, MPA and Doctoral in Public Policy, Bayero Agabi has certifications in business and enterprise management, Telecomms, computer science and public relations.
Agabi is a professional member of the institute of Public Relation Chattered, fellow of Institute of Management Consultancy FIMC, fellow Institute of Information Management Africa FIIM and member Institute of Data Processing Management IDPM.
He presently pioneers ICT broadcast in West Africa with Digivation Network and other running business ventures.