The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on Tuesday hosted its Digital Tech Forum at the organisation’s office in Kano, where experts renewed calls for stronger data protection safeguards in Nigeria.
Speakers at the event stressed the urgent need for policies that protect citizens’ privacy and reinforce public trust in the country’s expanding digital environment.
In her remarks, the Project Lead at CITAD, Fatima Babakura, emphasised that data protection has become central to Nigeria’s digital transformation.
She explained that privacy concerns now cut across public awareness, civil society, academia, security operations, and the confidence users place in digital platforms.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of CITAD, Mal. Y. Z. Ya’u, said the forum was organised to assess Nigeria’s current data-protection frameworks, identify the most pressing gaps, and generate practical recommendations that can strengthen national data governance.
The session featured a presentation titled, “Understanding Data Protection in Nigeria’s Evolving Digital Ecosystem and What Data Protection Means to Individuals: Rights, Risks and Responsibilities.”
Resource persons noted that Nigerians have the legal right to challenge any unauthorised use of their personal data.
They highlighted the dangers associated with mishandling biometric information, health records, and other sensitive personal details.
Speakers outlined persistent weaknesses in the existing system, including the lack of strong safeguards for children’s data and inadequate funding for the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
They also cited poor digital infrastructure, weak enforcement mechanisms, limited cybersecurity capacity, and generally low digital literacy as major obstacles.
The experts further urged improved access to information on mobile devices, more sustained public sensitisation campaigns, and the inclusion of underserved communities in national digital policy discussions.
