By Chesa Chesa
The Nigerians government has been tasked to improve the security of the country’s cyberspace and digital privacy to enable citizens take better advantage of the digital world for personal and societal development.
The demand was made on Tuesday in Abuja by media practitioners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) during a Public Forum on the ‘Status of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Nigeria: Progress, Challenges and Prospects’, organised by Media Foundation for West (MFWA) in partnership with the International Press Centre (IPC).
This position was informed by a survey that revealed that as high as 68% of Nigerians expressed concerns about online data security in the country, hence the need to improve DPI.
Programme, Director for Media and Good Governance, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Ms. Abigail Larbi, underscored the imperative of building trust in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure a dependable DPI holds immense potential to transform the economy, improve access to education and healthcare, and empower citizens.
She said the forum was therefore, organised to achieve to assess the current state of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Public Goods (DPGs), and examine the extent to which inclusivity has been ensured in their deployment.
According to her, “recent surveys reveal that 72% of Nigerians believe access to digital services is essential for development. This widespread recognition underscores the urgency of discussions on DPIs/DPGs.
“However, equally important is acknowledging that 68% of Nigerians express concerns about online data security. Building trust in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is paramount. There is a need to prioritize data privacy and cybersecurity measures to ensure that Nigerians feel safe and empowered to participate in the digital world.”
Also, Programmes Manager of International Press Center (IPC), Stella Nwofia, said the synergy between DPI, DPGs and journalism would highlight the critical function of technology in elevating voices, promoting transparency, and empowering journalists in their vital role as democracy’s sentinels.
“In a time where digital innovation is at the heart of societal transformation, our dialogue today is of paramount importance. The synergy between DPI, DPGs, and journalism highlights the critical function of technology in elevating voices, promoting transparency, and empowering journalists in their vital role as democracy’s sentinels.
“In our rapidly transforming digital environment, where technology influences every aspect of life, it is essential to recognize the significant role Nigerian journalists play in fostering awareness and championing DPI and DPGs.
“By illuminating the advantages, challenges, and prospects linked with DPIs and DPGs, Nigerian journalists are pivotal in molding public perception and influencing policies that will lead to fairer access to vital digital resources nationwide”, she stressed.
In his address, the National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Achike Chude, equally highlighted the importance of the media to nation-building, and called for adequate investment in the development of the DPI in the country.
Chude, however, called for the protection of Nigerians’ privacy in the deployment of DPI, while urging citizens to deploy it for the advancement of the country.
Also addressing the forum, a Fellow of MFWA, Mr. Usman Aliyu, noted that Nigeria had improved in the deployment of DPI, but lamented that 10 years after its takeoff, access to the rural areas remains a challenge.
Aliyu who is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), called on the policymakers to enact policies that would create an enabling environment for digital innovation and its access in the rural areas.
Another Fellow of MFWA, Mr. Ameh Ejekwonyilo, lamented inadequate deployment of broadband and fibre cable in some communities, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A senior reporter with reputable o line mewspapy, Premium Times, Ejekwonyilo, therefore advocated for bigger investment in DPI to ease off its access in rural areas and urged the Federal Government to put in place the needed infrastructure to enable Nigerians better enjoy the 5G option offered by GSM service providers.
The Media Foundation for West Africa is a regional independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Accra, Ghana.
