In a groundbreaking step towards fostering collaboration and advancing the cause of data protection, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) welcomed a delegation from Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS). The delegation, led by WiCyS President Patricia Eromosele, was received by Dr. Tolulope Pius-Fadipe, the Head of Research and Development at NDPC, who represented the National Commissioner/CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, at the event.
The meeting, which took place at the NDPC’s headquarters, marked a momentous occasion in the growing synergy between data protection and women’s empowerment in the tech industry. Patricia Eromosele, speaking with passion and determination, shared an inspiring overview of WiCyS, a global non-governmental organization that has steadily grown to encompass over 10,000 members worldwide. The organization’s primary mission is to address the gender imbalance in cybersecurity and to create more opportunities for women to thrive in this critical field.
Patricia eloquently conveyed WiCyS’s vision of a more inclusive cybersecurity industry, where women are not only participants but leaders, innovators, and experts in the field. She highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting women and girls by advocating for organizations to invest in female talent and ensuring that women are equally represented in decision-making spaces within the tech world.
In a heartfelt appeal, Patricia expressed her hopes for a collaboration with NDPC that would focus on empowering women and girls by raising awareness of their rights to data privacy and protection. She proposed an initiative aimed at educating young women about the importance of safeguarding their personal information in an increasingly digital world. “Privacy is a fundamental right,” she said, stressing that many women and girls are unaware of the power they have in controlling their data and protecting their privacy.
In addition to awareness-building efforts, Patricia proposed an exciting initiative to train female volunteers, who would be dubbed “Data Protector Heroines.” These women would undergo specialized training and, in turn, become ambassadors in their communities, passing on their knowledge and empowering others to take charge of their data protection and privacy. Patricia’s vision was clear: to create a ripple effect of change where women, equipped with knowledge, would help foster a broader, more inclusive data protection ecosystem.
The proposed collaboration between NDPC and WiCyS promises to be a game-changer, not only for the data protection landscape but also for the empowerment of women and girls in technology. Both parties expressed strong enthusiasm about the possibilities ahead, and the meeting ended on a hopeful note, with a shared commitment to building a future where privacy and inclusivity are champions in the digital age.
As the world continues to face new challenges in data security and privacy, this partnership represents a vital step toward ensuring that women are not left behind but are instead leading the charge in protecting the most valuable resource of the modern world—our data.
#ChampioningPrivacyRights #EmpoweringWomenInTech #DataProtection
