Commission warns against sharing personal information on internet

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has warned Nigerians, especially teenagers, against sharing personal information on the internet.

Mr. Babatunde Bamigboye, Head, Legal Enforcement and Regulation, NDPC, said this at the closing of a Summer programme organised by the Teen Ambassador Foundation in Abuja on Saturday.

The summer, which began on July 24 and ended on September 2, was targeted at training Teenagers and Youth in science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics Education with Robotics.

Bamigboye, who represented the Director-General of the commission, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said Nigerians should be wary of putting all their data on the internet so as to keep people from knowing everything about them.

He said, “At the commission, we protect data, and most of what you will need to develop apps depends on data.

“You must protect your information when you go online. It is important that this form part of our curriculum as teachers of children because they are now exposed to what adults are exposed to.”

Bamigboye said he was hopeful that among the kids who attended the summer camp organised by Teen Ambassador, the country would have renowned innovators among them.

He commended TAF for organising such a programme to keep the children busy during the holiday while assuring the teenagers that in 20 years from now they would remember “today and thank the organiser.”

“The world of ICT, especially this robotic artificial intelligence, is the world of the new oil, which everyone is going towards. Now you have better opportunities than Bill Gate.”

Rep. Avia Agah, a member representing Jos North, Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State, commended the Director General of TAF, Mr. Paul Adiwu, adding that the gesture was laudable.

“I am overwhelmed and happy. You have chosen humanity at a time when the country is grappling with so many challenges. You have chosen to keep our children in this endeavour,"” he said.

Adiwu, while speaking, said the centre was not a training institute, but his passion to develop the potential of the kids in the country made him organise the training for them.

He said his passion was to expose the kids to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and robotics by employing experts to engage them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several teenagers and youths were trained in robotics and were presented with certificates, while some of them demonstrated what they had learned in robotics.

Mr. Victor Taiba, Chief Executive Officer, Net Access Communication Ltd., who trained the teenagers, said, “The only thing to be a part of what is happening around the world is to train the kids.”

According to him, how can we keep up with what’s happening around the world? The way is to start with kids to give them a solid foundation in engineering and mathematics.

“A child should be able to build a system with this training in automobiles, robotics, and smart agriculture when they start early,” he said.