The Hidden Price of Free Learning: Nigerian Youth and Data Privacy in the Digital Skills Race
Nigeria’s ambitious push to equip its youth with in-demand digital skills is rapidly transforming the educational landscape, fueled by AI-powered EdTech platforms. However, this surge in online learning, epitomized by initiatives like the government-backed 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, comes with a significant, often overlooked, cost: the privacy of the learners themselves. Many young Nigerians, eager to gain crucial technological competencies, are inadvertently trading their personal data for access to these valuable resources.
The Privacy Trade-Off: Data vs. Digital Skills
Lawal Hassan, a young Nigerian from Oyo State, represents the typical learner. Enrolled in an online AI course as part of the 3MTT initiative, he, like countless others, quickly accepted the platform’s privacy policy without thoroughly reviewing it. As he admitted, the lengthy and complex nature of such policies leads to a quick “check the box and use the platform” approach. This scenario is common among Nigerian youths turning to platforms like ALX, Cisco Networking Academy, Udemy, and Coursera to acquire skills necessary for the modern digital economy. These platforms, while offering transformative opportunities, often require extensive personal data. This data collection, coupled with vague privacy policies and opaque practices, raises critical questions about data security and the long-term implications for learners’ digital footprints in the context of an emerging digital economy in Africa. The price of digital inclusion becomes the relinquishing of personal information.
Keywords
Related Keywords: Nigerian youths, free online learning, data privacy, digital skills, privacy tradeoff, online education, data security, internet safety, Nigeria, digital literacy
