The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), in partnership with the Port Harcourt Chapter of ISACA, has held the sixth edition of its Digital Privacy Awareness Campaign (DPAC) at Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, as part of efforts to nurture a new generation of privacy-conscious Nigerians.
The initiative underscores the Commission’s commitment to promoting data privacy education through strategic partnerships, youth engagement and sustained awareness programmes across tertiary institutions nationwide.
Declaring the event open, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, represented by Mr. Oluwatimilehin Agboola of the Commission’s Research, Development and Innovation Department, highlighted the remarkable progress of the Commission’s campus-based privacy initiatives.
According to him, the NDPC has established 17 Data Privacy Clubs in universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, while its Data Privacy Ambassador Programme has expanded to include more than 2,500 student ambassadors across 85 tertiary institutions.
He noted that these initiatives are designed to equip students with practical knowledge of data protection and digital rights while encouraging them to become advocates for responsible data handling within their communities.
“The future of Nigeria’s digital economy depends on citizens who understand the value of personal data and the importance of protecting privacy. Through our campus initiatives, we are investing in young people who will become champions of digital trust and responsible innovation,” he said.
Delivering the welcome address, President of ISACA Port Harcourt Chapter, Ms. Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, encouraged students to explore the growing opportunities within the global data privacy and digital trust ecosystem.
In her presentation, titled “From Campus to Career: Opportunities, Certifications and Scholarships in the Data Privacy and Digital Trust Ecosystem,” she introduced participants to professional certifications, scholarship opportunities and career pathways available in data protection, cybersecurity, governance, risk management and digital trust.
She emphasized that as organizations increasingly prioritize privacy compliance and digital resilience, qualified professionals in these fields will remain in high demand.
The event also featured goodwill messages from key government and academic stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, Ms. Aleruchi Akani, and the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Onos Sirawoo, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Enlightenment, Ms. Joy Owhonda-Sarima. Also lending support to the initiative was the Head of the Department of Computer Engineering, Rivers State University, Dr. Boma Lucklyn.
Speakers unanimously stressed the importance of embedding privacy awareness into higher education curricula and equipping students with the knowledge required to navigate an increasingly data-driven world.
The sixth edition of the Digital Privacy Awareness Campaign further reinforces the NDPC’s broader mission of strengthening Nigeria’s data protection culture by cultivating awareness at the grassroots level and preparing young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to a secure, trusted and inclusive digital economy.
