Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), has reaffirmed its commitment to full compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, with a three-day awareness training for academic and non-teaching staff, as well as members of the University Management.
The training, themed _”Data Protection and Privacy: Culture and Compliance,”_ was held from October 20 to 22, 2026, at the University’s ICT Experience Centre.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, while visiting the training venue, said the University prioritised the programme to ensure that personal information entrusted to it by students, staff, parents, applicants, alumni and other stakeholders is collected, processed, stored and protected responsibly.
He noted that the training was also designed to strengthen the University’s compliance with the directives of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the regulatory body established under the Act to oversee its implementation.
Professor Ayodele expressed optimism that the training would expose staff to emerging technologies and tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), that could support data protection and privacy practices. He reaffirmed EKSU’s commitment to taking data protection seriously and assured the training provider of the University’s full cooperation.
The Vice-Chancellor also commended Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, for his support for the University’s infrastructural, academic and research development, and for providing an enabling environment for it to thrive.
He charged the selected staff attending the training to take it very seriously and accept the responsibility of retraining their colleagues who were not opportune to participate. He assured them that the knowledge gained would be documented and that on-the-job practices and procedures would be implemented without delay.
The training facilitator and founder of DAPT/DXL Data Protection Consultant, HHI Olutoyin Oloniteru, appreciated the University Management for its resolve towards data protection and privacy compliance. He described the training as a necessary step towards creating awareness of data protection, privacy culture and compliance among staff, in accordance with international best practices.
According to the data protection consultant, EKSU had fulfilled the core criteria of the Nigeria Data Protection Act by registering with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and appointing and training a qualified and competent Data Protection Officer (DPO).
Some of the staff who commented on the training, including Dr. Sunday Fadugba of the Department of Mathematics and Comrade Temidayo Aguda, a Deputy Registrar, said the training was a welcome development and came at the right time. They noted that they were ready to apply what they had learnt to responsibly manage the University’s data, ensuring that its information is properly handled and securely protected.
According to Dr. (Mrs.) Adekemi Taiwo of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the training would assist academic staff in teaching students, checking results and avoiding self-plagiarism in research work. She added that the training would also enhance their understanding of the use and ethics of Generative and Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and research.
The participating non-teaching and academic staff members were selected from various departments, the Registry, directorates and faculties, including members of the University Management team.
The selection was aimed at deepening EKSU’s compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, and better safeguarding the University’s information across all levels of its operations.
