Telecom
Digital Economy Grows Faster Than Other Economies – DG NITDA
Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), has said that Digital Economy is growing at bigger rate faster than the rest of the economy, according to him, global economy is undergoing a digital transformation at a breakneck speed.
Abdullahi said this at the Digital Jewel Privacy Week roundtable discussion, with the theme ‘Harnessing Data as a Critical Asset in the Digital Economy’ which was held virtually on Friday, and attended by stakeholders from different sectors.
He said as the Digital Economy grows, Nigeria figured out how to make sure government, private sector, and the consumer are in sync.
Abdullahi stated that to harness and benefit from global digital economy trend, President Muhammadu Buhari, on 23rd October 2019, redesignated and expanded the mandate of Ministry of Communications to cover Digital Economy. However, on 28th November, 2019, the president also unveiled National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) in order to put Nigeria on the global map of digitally competitive nation and ignited innovative activities in-country to unlock the Nigeria’s potentials in Digital Economy.
He further noted that data is the most valuable and significant asset as it plays a huge role in everyday live.
“Collecting and sharing data is a key to conducting business in today’s global digital economy. Never before has data protection become more critical than now, it has become central to how business can maintain trust and safeguard the data they collect or process from you and me.
“It is obvious that digital technologies power our everyday activity. Some of the devices we take for granted are so central to our lives.
“It seems perfectly normal to use your mobile phone, to process your emails, shop online, chat with friend and family, share pictures, read, watch and listen to your favorite movies and music.
“In the process you provide your personal data such as; name, address, bank details and so on.
“These are the information you and I know we share visibly but behind the scene enormous amount of data is generated, collected and stored by our mobile phones.
“Your phone tracks and collects data about you every second. It knows your location, the route you follow to work, who you spend time with, it knows who you talk to, what you say, who you chat with, what you share, it knows what you read, watch and listen to,” he added.
Speaking on what NITDA has done so far in regards to data protection, Abdullahi explained that, the Agency issued Data Protection Guidelines in 2013 to provide a basic law to guide the use of data in the digital space.
However, with the emergence of the EU GDPR in 2016, the Agency worked with private sector to issue Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) on 25th January 2019.
Subsequent to the issuance of the NDPR, NITDA has sustained substantial public awareness campaigns. The Agency carried out massive media awareness in May and October 2019. Nigeria is the first country in Africa to dedicate a whole week to public awareness on data privacy protection.
“Our first privacy week held on 23rd – 28th January, 2020. On a regular basis we issue press statements. Also, we have treated several questions, request for clarification and other enquiries from the public on the issue of data protection.
“We have also organized workshops for Data Protection Compliance Organizations (DPCO), Data Protection Officers, Data Breach Investigation Team (DBIT), Police Enforcement Team, selected NITDA staff, in-house workshop for major multinationals, Regulators and industry associations.
“NITDA has created unique implementation structure for the NDPR, which also creates a set of licensees to organizations who have proven expertise in data protection implementation.
“These DPCOs are licensed to provide data protection compliance, audit, training and related services to all Data Controllers and Processors.
“We have licensed seventy DPCOs and have received many more applications which are currently being processed. Aside from the compliance focus, we have also inaugurated the Data Breach Investigation Team (DBIT).
“On the recommendation of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, NITDA was appointed as a member of the Technical working group on Data Protection Laws Harmonization and Localization in Africa hosted by the African Union Commission with support from the European Union Commission. Nigeria was appointed as the Vice Chair of this very important group.
“The confidence reposed in us by the African and European Union (EU) has been justified as our experiential, collegial and intellectual inputs to the process has endeared us to our sister countries,” he added.
Lebara Nigeria has become a member of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) as it expands operations in the West African country.
The membership places Lebara Nigeria within a global network of more than 1,000 mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology companies and digital service providers.
Through the GSMA, the company will have access to industry research, technical standards, policy engagement and industry initiatives.
Lebara Nigeria said the move reflects its participation in the wider telecommunications ecosystem as it develops its operations in Nigeria’s mobile market.
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector plays a central role in the country’s digital economy, with more than 170 million active mobile subscriptions supporting services such as digital payments, e-commerce, education and healthcare.
Industry analysts say participation in international bodies such as the GSMA supports knowledge sharing and the adoption of industry standards.
Lebara Nigeria said GSMA membership will support its engagement with industry developments and policy discussions in the telecommunications sector.
The company said it remains focused on operating in Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications market as demand for connectivity continues to grow.
GSM Association is the advocacy and lobbying organization for the mobile communications industry, representing more than 1,000 mobile operators as full members and a further 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem as associate members.
Management of Vitel Wireless, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has distanced the company from a fraudulent scheme operating under the name: “Vitel Shares Services.”
In an official statement, the management clarified that Vitel Wireless is not selling shares or running any investment schemes.
They warned that the operators of “Vitel Shares Services” are using unauthorised websites, mobile applications, social media promotions, and bank accounts falsely linked to Vitel Wireless to mislead the public.
The statement reads: “The attention of Vitel Wireless has been drawn to a fraudulent scheme operating under the name ‘Vitel Shares Services.’
“We wish to state clearly that Vitel Wireless has no affiliation with Vitel Shares Services, or any platform claiming to offer Vitel shares, investments, or financial products through unofficial channels.
“We do not solicit investments through agents, social media, websites, apps, or third parties. Any platform claiming to offer Vitel Wireless shares or investments outside our official channels is fraudulent and should be treated as such.
“We urge the general public to remain vigilant and verify all information through official Vitel Wireless communication channels before making any payments or sharing personal data.”
Airtel Nigeria has concluded its second Customer Forum in Abuja, bringing together a large section of customers including high-volume data subscribers, 5G customers, and key stakeholders in another landmark engagement aimed at addressing concerns around data usage, transparency, and customer experience.
The forum themed “Understanding Your Data and Taking Control 2.0.” aimed to strengthen trust in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape. The session also featured inputs from representatives of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Delivering the Keynote remarks, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, who was represented by Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, emphasised that trust remains the most valuable currency in telecommunications, and Airtel remains committed to strengthening customer confidence through transparency and continuous engagement.
He explained that discussions around data consumption have become increasingly important as digital lifestyles evolve, with smartphones, cloud services, video streaming and emerging artificial intelligence applications significantly influencing data usage patterns.
According to him, Airtel recently introduced the Airtel Data Calculator, an innovative tool designed to help customers estimate their data needs based on online activities such as multimedia streaming, video calls, social media usage, and gaming.
“The purpose of the Airtel Data Calculator is to provide greater visibility, support informed decision-making and place more information directly in the hands of customers. Because transparency should never be viewed as a compliance exercise. Transparency is good business,” he stated.
He further reassured customers that Airtel has no incentive to shortchange subscribers through inaccurate billing, forced spending or unnecessary data depletion, stressing that the company’s growth depends on customer satisfaction, loyalty and trust.
Adeniran also highlighted Airtel’s continued investments in network infrastructure, fibre capacity, digital platforms, artificial intelligence capabilities, customer service systems and workforce development, noting that these investments are aimed at improving service quality and enhancing customer experiences.
Oladokun Oye, Director, Customer Experience, Airtel Nigeria, while welcoming participants to the event, said the forum was created to provide customers with an open platform for education, engagement and problem-solving, noting that the customer remains at the centre of Airtel’s business.
“Data has become central to everyday life, powering work, education, commerce, entertainment, healthcare and countless opportunities. As data usage grows, so too does the desire for greater visibility and understanding.
Today’s conversation is part of an ongoing journey. A journey toward greater transparency. A journey toward deeper understanding. And a journey toward a better customer experience for every Airtel subscriber,” he said.
The forum also featured practical demonstrations on data consumption management, device settings, and usage habits that impact data usage. It also included an interactive session by which Airtel teams provided clarifications and offered feedback to customers.
The Abuja event follows the successful maiden edition held earlier this year in Lagos and aligns with broader industry efforts led by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to improve consumer awareness, transparency, and confidence within the telecommunications sector.
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