PalmPay has partnered with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth Development to deliver comprehensive data protection and digital safety training to over one million young Nigerians within three years through their Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training programme.
Recently launched at Abuja’s Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, this initiative aims to provide Nigerian youth with essential knowledge for secure digital navigation. Given that young people constitute over 70% of Nigeria’s population, the programme is vital for building trust, security, and innovation within Africa’s largest digital economy.
“We’re creating a privacy-first generation that’s inclusive, forward-thinking, and globally competitive,” stated Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande during the launch. He emphasised that awareness of Nigeria’s 2023 Data Protection Act remains insufficient while highlighting the critical shortage of certified Data Protection Officers despite over 500,000 data controllers nationwide.
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PalmPay Managing Director Chika Nwosu explained that the company integrates privacy protections throughout its product development process. “Data protection equals innovation in importance within technology,” he noted. “We’re committed to safeguarding user information while providing youth with essential skills for success.”
The programme will offer mentorship and internship opportunities for high-achieving participants, building on PalmPay’s existing youth initiatives, including the Purple Woman campaign and Passing the Baton CSR programme, which have already assisted thousands of women and young people throughout Nigeria.
Both PalmPay and the Ministry plan to extend training campaigns into northern regions, scaling the initiative nationwide to enhance digital literacy and develop a more robust workforce for Nigeria’s technology-centered economy.
