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NITDA Collaborates With Nigeria Police on NPDR Enforcement
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), expressed willingness to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that public and private organizations comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), to protect citizens’ personal information, tackle the menace of cybercrimes, and encourage safer use of Internet amongst individuals, public, and private organisations in the country.
L-R: Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, NITDA and Usman Alkali Baba, Inspector General of Police, IGP during a courtesy visit at Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general, NITDA, hinted this when he led his management team to a courtesy visit on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday at Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Abdullahi said cybersecurity has become very essential in today’s world where society is more reliant on digital technology than ever before, and the sophistication and relentless attacks of cybercriminals are incomparable.
According to him, there is apparently no sign that this trend will slow down anytime soon. Therefore, there is a need for the collaboration between NITDA and the Force to tackle the menace by ensuring that organizations protect the personal information of all citizens at their disposal.
The DG lamented that in recent times, private individuals, private organisations, government establishments, and even military and paramilitary have all been targets of these acts, mostly because there is a high rate of data leakage on the internet.
“Reports from our cybersecurity monitoring platforms have indicated that activities of cybercriminals have increased exponentially; data leakage that can lead to identity theft is now being posted on social media and even auctioned for sale on the dark web.
“It is important to note that this is a global phenomenon, nations around the world are reporting increasing numbers of cyber espionage, BEC Scams, Identity theft, amongst numerous other cybercrimes,” he noted.
Abdullahi added that the borderless nature of cyberspace has necessitated NITDA to be a step ahead of these cybercriminals, especially as the country begins to adopt a digital economy, hence it is important that Nigeria build resilience against these threats to ensure trust in the system.
While commenting on laws that empower the Agency, particularly NITDA Act 2007, Abdullahi stated that NITDA is increasingly paying attention to cybercrime and cybersecurity, and this led establishment of NITDA’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) to provide support for MDAs in tackling cybersecurity incidents through prompt awareness, cybersecurity tips, monitoring intrusion, leveraging trusted resources, and implementing a response plan for MDAs.
He further stated that the Agency publishes Information Assurance Guidelines for MDAs towards ensuring that MDAs implement the minimum controls required to safeguard their information assets; and the enactment of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) that ensures that personal data of data subjects are protected. Also, that mechanisms are set in place to ensure that violations to NDPR provisions are appropriately investigated and appropriate sanctions applied.
He appreciated the support offered by the Force by attaching Officers to the NITDA Regulations Compliance Monitoring Team.
Explaining NITDA’s mandate on IT Project Clearance, the DG stated that the Federal Government Circular issued on 18th April 2006 specifically directed all MDAs planning to embark on IT projects to obtain clearance from NITDA. This was subsequently reinforced by another Circular issued on the 31st August 2018.
To reiterate the importance of NITDA’s role in IT Procurements in Government, during his speech at the e-Nigeria International Conference, Exhibition and Awards 2018, Muhammadu Buhari directed all Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) to ensure that their IT projects are duly cleared by NITDA, and directed that defaulters should be reported to the government for sanctioning.
Abdullahi also sought for the Force’s support towards ensuring that young Nigerians with genuine IT businesses are allowed to operate and, where necessary, adequately support in carrying out their lawful businesses.
“The critical role of Startups in our journey towards a Digital Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. However, some Tech startups have reported being harassed by some Law Enforcement Agencies, with some having their IT systems confiscated.
“This has negatively impacted their business operations as well as the economy. NITDA maintains a database of genuine Startups with verifiable business ventures and duly registered with the Agency. Access to such a database can be granted to the Force when the need arises,” he explained.
The IGP Usman Alkali Baba, appreciated NITDA’s visit to the corporate Headquarters of NPF and assured DG of the Force’s support towards realising the Agency’s mandate.
He also reiterated the need for synergy and collaboration with NITDA, stating that no organisation can effectively operate without leveraging digital technologies and NITDA being the IT regulator in the country, is central to the activities of the Force.
United States (US) House of Representatives has banned WhatsApp from all official devices as a result of data privacy and security concerns.
Harry Coker, acting national cyber security (ONCD) Director confirmed this via a statement issued on Monday, June 23 stating that WhatsApp’s high risk classification is attributed to the messaging app’s ambiguous data protection policies, inadequate encryption for stored data, and other potential security vulnerabilities.
He stated that staff have since been advised to utilize more secure communication platforms, with recommended alternatives including Microsoft Teams, Apple’s iMessage and FaceTime, Signal, and Amazon’s Wickr.
However, Nick Clegg, president of Global Affairs for Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has strongly opposed the ban.
He said, “We disagree with this decision in the strongest possible terms, whatsApp provides a higher level of security than the other approved apps.”
This ban on WhatsApp is not an isolated incident, it follows previous restrictions on other applications, such as TikTok, which was removed from government devices in 2022.
The decision also comes just months after WhatsApp itself confirmed that Israeli spyware firm Paragon Solutions had targeted some of its users, including journalists and civil society figures.
MTN Foundation has received accolades from UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The recognition, presented during a profile courtesy visit by UN Women representatives to MTN Nigeria’s Head Office in Ikoyi, Lagos, acknowledged the Organisation’s profound contributions to advancing women’s empowerment across the nation.
The UN Women delegation, led by Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria, commended MTN and its Foundation for their unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive society where women thrive.
During the presentation, Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria, expressed profound admiration for MTN’s efforts. “I want to congratulate MTN for all that they have been doing,” Eyong stated, her voice resonating with appreciation. “And I want to congratulate MTN Foundation specifically, because they are leaving things better than they met them especially with their Mother and Child Initiatives.” Her remarks highlighted MTN’s focused impact, suggesting a significant improvement in the landscape of women’s empowerment due to the company’s interventions.
Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, received the award and further elaborated on the company’s broader commitment to societal upliftment through women’s empowerment. ” Our Y’ellopreneur program targeted at Female entrepreneurs is about creating access for our Female Entrepreneurs – access to skills, capital and markets. Our commitment is to contribute to the success of women – led businesses in Nigeria.
This focus on economic empowerment through skills development directly benefits women seeking to improve their livelihoods. This recognition comes as MTN Nigeria continues to champion various programmes aimed at uplifting women, from promoting gender diversity within its corporate structure to supporting women-led businesses and initiatives.
The company’s alignment with global best practices, including its recent signing on to the United Nations Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs), further solidifies its position as a leader in corporate social responsibility and gender equality advocacy.
The award serves as a testament to MTN Nigeria’s strategic and impactful investments in creating a more equitable future for Nigerian women.
Google today announced the selection of 15 promising tech startups for its Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9 program. These innovative startups, hailing from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa, are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to address significant challenges across diverse sectors, including fintech, agritech, healthtech, and professional services.
In an era where startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across Africa, these innovators often face significant hurdles to scale their operations, particularly in securing essential support, mentorship, and funding. Programs like the Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa play a crucial role in providing these opportunities, enabling tech founders and innovators to amplify their impact. By bringing together Google’s extensive resources, including cutting-edge AI technologies and a global network of experts, the program aims to equip these startups to not only thrive but also lead in addressing both local and global challenges in this AI era.
The selection follows a highly competitive application process that began in April 2025 , drawing nearly 1,500 applications from across the continent. This cohort underscores Google’s deep commitment to fostering Africa’s vibrant tech ecosystem and supporting startups in their growth journey.
“African startups are at the forefront of solving critical challenges across the continent, and their work with AI is truly transformative,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Africa at Google. “This program reflects our belief that AI can be transformative when shaped by those who understand the context deeply. We are incredibly excited to support these founders who are building for impact and helping to shape an inclusive AI ecosystem across Africa.”
Over the next three months, the selected startups will participate in a hybrid accelerator program (June 23rd to August 22nd, 2025). Participants will receive dedicated technical mentorship from experienced Google engineers and industry experts , up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits , and strategic support in AI implementation, product leadership, and business growth. They will also gain access to a global network of investors, partners, and collaborators, amplifying their reach and impact.
Since its inception in 2018, the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program has supported 153 startups from 17 African countries. Collectively, these alumni have raised over $300 million in funding and created more than 3,500 jobs. Google has directly contributed $5 million through a combination of equity-free funding and product credits to support these founders.
The Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9 cohort includes:
AFRIKABAL (Rwanda): A blockchain and AI-powered platform helping farmers, buyers, and logistics firms trade crops securely and transparently.
Apexloads (Kenya): A logistics SaaS platform helping African freight brokers, forwarders, and transporters move cargo faster with verified partners.
E-doc Online (Nigeria): Simplifies compliance and credit checks by analyzing real-time banking data, enabling faster onboarding and smarter lending decisions.
GoNomad (Nigeria): Enables businesses to start and run global entities, and solopreneurs to professionally invoice and get paid globally like a local.
Midddleman (Nigeria): An intelligent sourcing and payment platform helping African businesses import and pay for goods from China faster, safer, and cheaper.
Myltura (Nigeria): An AI-powered digital health platform enabling remote care, test access, and seamless health data management in Africa.
Pastel (Nigeria): Offers Enterprise AI solutions, inc. AI based fraud detection and anti-money laundering solutions to financial institutions in Africa.
Rapid Human AI (South Africa): An end-to-end AI design-thinking platform that turns ideas into code in days, cutting development time by 80%.
Regulon (Ghana): An AI-powered compliance and onboarding platform designed to simplify regulatory processes for businesses across Africa and the EMEA region.
Scandium (Nigeria): An AI Quality Assurance suite that helps teams ship bug-free software faster with end-to-end test automation and test ops tooling.
Shamba Records (Kenya): An AI-powered platform that empowers 50,000+ African farmers with smart credit, market access, and climate-resilient, data-driven agriculture.
Smartel Agri Tech (Rwanda): Helps smallholder farmers in the Global South get ahead of crop pests and diseases early using AI-powered, solar-driven devices and SMS alerts.
TOLBI (Senegal): Leverages AI and satellite imagery to empower sustainable agriculture across Africa, providing precise crop yield forecasts.
YeneHealth (Ethiopia): An AI-driven digital health web, and mobile app streamlining access to affordable, reliable, quality medications & health care services.
Zerone Analytiqs (Ghana): A transformative two-pronged solution to the data scarcity in Africa, We are revolutionizing how data is sourced, analyzed, and utilized for decisions.
For further information and updates, visit the Google Africa Blog or follow @GoogleAfrica on social media.
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