David Idris, CEO of Glemad, emphasizes the critical need for proactive cybersecurity measures in Nigeria, particularly for SMEs often overlooking these crucial safeguards. He advocates for stringent data protection enforcement, increased public awareness of data privacy rights, and a balanced approach to data localization that accommodates international data flow necessities. Glemad prioritizes data protection as a foundational principle, integrating privacy-first principles into its AI-driven technology solutions and ensuring continuous adaptation to evolving regulatory updates like the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) of 2023. Idris stresses the importance of viewing compliance not as a burden but as an opportunity to build trust with customers. He highlights the challenge for businesses, especially SMEs, to keep pace with rapidly changing data protection regulations, advocating for a proactive rather than reactive approach to security.
Nigeria faces significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities, with many businesses, especially SMEs, treating cybersecurity as an afterthought. Outdated systems, weak access controls, and insufficient security monitoring leave organizations susceptible to various cyber threats. The lack of structured response mechanisms further exacerbates the problem, with many businesses only discovering vulnerabilities after an attack. Idris highlights the importance of proactive security management, including continuous monitoring, incident response protocols, and regulatory compliance. He champions the use of AI-driven solutions like Glemad’s SmartCombat, which can detect, analyze, and predict cyber threats in real-time, showcasing its effectiveness in preventing a potential disaster for a financial institution in Cameroon.
Public awareness of data privacy rights is crucial, but currently lacking in Nigeria. Idris emphasizes the role of the private sector in educating the public, advocating for clear and accessible explanations of data handling practices. He criticizes complex terms of service agreements that often obfuscate rather than inform, urging businesses to provide simplified summaries of their data policies. Strengthening digital literacy requires nationwide education programs and greater responsibility from businesses in educating their customers about data usage and protection. This should be coupled with integrating security best practices into workplace training to mitigate human error, a significant vulnerability even with advanced cybersecurity measures.
While the NDPA represents a step forward, Idris highlights gaps in its enforcement and the lack of clear guidance for businesses, particularly regarding cross-border data transfers. This lack of clarity necessitates a national strategy for regulating such transfers. He questions whether Nigeria should prioritize stricter data localization for enhanced control over sovereign data or embrace global frameworks that facilitate information flow. Effective data protection necessitates stronger enforcement mechanisms, clearer compliance expectations, and structured support for SMEs lacking technical expertise. The rise of “compliance-as-a-service” models offers a viable solution for SMEs to outsource compliance functions and leverage enterprise-grade security.
SMEs, crucial to Nigeria’s economy, face the challenge of balancing AI adoption with data privacy compliance. Idris recommends integrating security and compliance from the outset and adopting centralized IT governance models where security, compliance, and AI automation work in synergy. Outsourcing these functions can provide SMEs access to enterprise-level security without the associated overheads. The debate on data localization raises concerns about balancing national sovereignty with the needs of a globalized digital economy. Idris suggests a pragmatic approach, prioritizing localization for critical industries while permitting regulated international data flows, ensuring businesses can maintain operational efficiency while adhering to data residency laws.
AI governance should prioritize ethical responsibility alongside technical compliance. This requires establishing transparency guidelines for AI-driven decisions, implementing independent audits for bias detection, and ensuring explainable AI systems. Cross-sector collaboration between businesses, policymakers, and civil society is crucial for developing adaptable governance frameworks that keep pace with AI’s rapid evolution. Looking ahead, Idris foresees the rise of ethical challenges related to biometric data and the potential misuse of AI for misinformation. He poses critical questions regarding the regulation and implementation of AI-driven fact-checking systems in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for proactive consideration of these emerging challenges to establish Nigeria as a leader in digital technology and data protection. He underscores Glemad’s commitment to proactive solutions, whether through AI-driven security or education, to equip Nigerian businesses for the ever-evolving data protection landscape. Continued collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society is vital for developing adaptive regulatory frameworks. Robust cybersecurity infrastructures and the adoption of continuous monitoring, automated threat detection, and managed security operations become essential in mitigating evolving cyber threats, especially in critical sectors like finance, healthcare, and telecommunications.
