The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has inaugurated the Technical Working Group, TWG, on the implementation of the National Data Strategy, NDS, in the country.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the group is expected to make recommendations for effective data utilisation for improved national security, job creation, social welfare, quality healthcare, education, and innovation.
Inaugurating the committee on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Williams Alo, said the strategy was aimed at ensuring access to the availability of data, its privacy and protection, and governance, among other functions.
According to him, the committee will complement the federal government’s diverse roles in ensuring data utilization in the country.
“This is done by establishing appropriate regulatory instruments such as the NDS and promoting responsible data practises, harnessing the power of data for the benefit of the society,’’ the permanent secretary said.
He identified collaboration and stakeholder engagement across sectors as key to harnessing and sharing data, adding that this will help prevent working in silos and duplication of functions.
“Today, we will create an inclusive and participatory environment that fosters innovation and empowers our people,” Mr Alo said.
The permanent secretary noted that the NDS would guide the nation to identify new opportunities, optimise existing processes, and make informed decisions that accelerate economic growth.
“Today, we can build a connected data ecosystem that unlocks new opportunities for Nigeria because NDS will promote societal growth and drive inclusive development.
“The NDS places great importance on promoting Data for social growth. We understand that Data has the potential to address society challenges and drives inclusive development in the country,” he stated.
Speaking earlier, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Inuwa Kashifu, stressed that data is the driver of every digital economy, saying that the NDS implied that Nigeria was ready for it.
Mr Inuwa recalled that the NDS was launched in March 2022, and had seven pillars, including Data Literacy and Skills, Data security, and Data sovereignty.
He said: “We need to train our citizens with prerequisite skills to build our economy through data and for social gains.
“The more information you have about something, the more control you have over that thing, so we need to secure our data at whatever stage it is, ensuring privacy and protection.
“Data sovereignty looks at the localization, transfer, and hosting of all our data locally or considering if it will be partially hosted locally,’’ he explained.
The NITDA boss also highlighted data availability and data infrastructure, which will provide data for researchers and innovators as well as ensure connectivity, and broadband penetration.
“Open data this will enable data available for researchers and innovators to develop digital services because available it because digital economy or platform-based economy.
“We need to build the infrastructure. We need to expand our broadband coverage. We need to get every Nigerian to have access to connectivity to the internet,” he stated.
Mr Inuwa, therefore, urged the members to chart ways to standardise data in the country to ensure effective integration which would in turn help regulatory agencies and Nigerians benefit from the data economy.
