Dr Olubayo Adekanmbi, Chief Executive Officer of Data Science Nigeria (DSN), says data classification should be the starting point for Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen data sovereignty and maximise its economic potential.
Adekanmbi stated this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.
Data sovereignty is the principle that digital information should be governed by the laws of the country where it is collected or stored.
According to him, categorising data based on levels of sensitivity and security importance will help determine what data should remain within the country and what can be hosted abroad.
“I think the issue of data classification is a fundamental starting point because we need to assign risk levels to different categories of data. That will determine what should remain in-country and what can be hosted outside the country. Even when data is stored abroad, we must retain full control over it,” he said.
He explained that data could be grouped into different categories according to its level of sensitivity and security importance, with corresponding levels of control and protection.
Adekanmbi added that data sovereignty should not be viewed solely as a restriction, but rather as an opportunity for economic growth and value creation.
According to him, investments in digital infrastructure could position Nigeria as a regional hub for data services and create a new source of foreign exchange earnings.
“We should begin to commercialise sovereignty and package it as a service. We can serve markets beyond Nigeria and support the entire West African region because we have the cloud infrastructure, skills, expertise and talent,” he told reporters.
He said national security-related data should remain within the country, while certain categories of health data also require local hosting due to the serious consequences of breaches.
“Certain data must remain in-country. National security data should be hosted within the country; there are categories of health data that we cannot afford to see compromised,” he said.
He noted that where data needs to be hosted outside the country, organisations should engage reputable global service providers with strong cybersecurity capabilities and clearly defined contractual obligations.
According to him, established technology firms such as Microsoft and Google have developed robust mechanisms for safeguarding data and are fully aware of the implications of data breaches.
Adekanmbi emphasised that maintaining control over data, irrespective of its geographical location, remains central to achieving effective data sovereignty.
