Amidst the rising adoption of artificial intelligence and big data, stakeholders have hinged Nigeria’s economic development to proper data management, governance and regulation in the face of rapid global digital transformation.
The stakeholders, who spoke in Abuja, insisted that Nigeria’s push for industrial development as well as investment would remain elusive if the country fails to leverage technology, insisting that recent efforts being made to put Nigeria on a global data map must be sustained.
The experts highlighted Nigeria’s journey as it relates to digitalisation and data governance, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement’s (AfCFTA) support for data governance and Nigeria’s AI governance model.
The experts, rising from a workshop themed ‘Harnessing Data Governance for National and Regional Development’, an event hosted by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), said both the federal and sub-national governments as well as the private sector are not yet doing enough in leveraging data.
Director of Research at CSEA, Dr Adedeji Adeniran, said robust data governance frameworks to support the emerging data infrastructure and technologies, including AI and big data, is necessary.
Noting that data governance involves regulations and procedures that govern how the country shares, processes and manages data, he said data would shape the next industrial revolution, an opportunity Africa cannot afford to miss.
According to him, while Africa has been left behind in previous industrial revolutions, if the continent is to benefit from this new wave of industrialisation, it must be part of the global value chain.
Adeniran pointed out the need for Africa to develop its data governance model, one that supports local innovation and entrepreneurship.
“We need to understand our local priorities and remove barriers through effective laws,” he explained.
Head of the National Development Division at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Ayodele Bakare, noted the need for cybersecurity and the need for organisations to adhere to standards like ISO 27001 to manage information security risks.
“We need a structure that supports digital development while ensuring privacy and data protection,” he noted.
Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Data School Emmanuel Oturi, emphasised the role of the private sector in utilising data for business intelligence and customer satisfaction.
He pointed out that many businesses in Nigeria, especially small and medium enterprises, can benefit from better data management practices.
“Processing data effectively can help businesses understand customer needs and improve their services,” he said.
