The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has called for the integration of robust privacy and security safeguards into Nigeria’s digital education infrastructure following the launch of the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The call was made by the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who participated as a panellist at the official unveiling of the new digital platform designed to enhance education planning and management across the country.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Data-driven Education Planning and Management as Components of National Planning,” Dr. Olatunji commended the Federal Ministry of Education for introducing the digital platform, describing it as a significant step towards improving data-driven decision-making in Nigeria’s education sector.
He, however, stressed that the success of the initiative would depend largely on the protection of students’ personal data, urging the Ministry to embed comprehensive technical and organisational safeguards into the system from the outset.
According to him, adopting the globally recognised “Privacy by Design” framework would ensure that data protection is built into the platform rather than treated as an afterthought. He identified key elements of the framework to include a comprehensive privacy policy, data encryption, transparency, data minimisation, and end-to-end security measures.
Dr. Olatunji noted that these principles would not only safeguard sensitive information but also strengthen public confidence in the platform while ensuring the availability of reliable and secure data for education planning and policy formulation.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the Federal Ministry of Education in implementing the initiative in line with international data protection standards and global best practices.
Responding, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, acknowledged the critical role of data protection and privacy in the successful deployment of the new education management system. He expressed the Ministry’s willingness to work closely with the NDPC to ensure that the platform complies with the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and other relevant regulatory requirements.
The Minister also directed the DNEMIS implementation team to immediately commence engagement with the Commission to facilitate compliance and embed privacy safeguards throughout the platform’s development and deployment.
The panel also featured the Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran; the Director of Educational Planning, Research and Development at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Obianuju Anigbogu; the Chief of Education at UNICEF Nigeria, Vanessa Lee; and Matthew Verghis, representing the Country Director of the World Bank.
The launch of DNEMIS is expected to strengthen evidence-based education planning and improve policy implementation, while the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Education and the NDPC is set to ensure that privacy and data protection remain central to Nigeria’s digital transformation in the education sector.