how Nigerian youths trade privacy for digital skills
As AI-powered EdTech platforms become central to Nigeria’s youth upskilling push, many learners unknowingly give up privacy and personal data under vague policies and opaque practices.
In the era of AI and rapid digital transformation, Lawal Hassan, a young Nigerian from Oyo State, enrolled in an online AI course under the government-backed 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
Like many learners, he clicked “accept” on the privacy policy without a second thought. “It’s always bulky, so I just check the box and use the platform,” he confessed.
Thousands of young Nigerians like Lawal are turning to AI-powered platforms such as ALX, Cisco Networking Academy, Udemy, and Coursera to acquire essential digital skills. While these platforms promise opportunity, they also demand personal data in return—a trade-off that many learners are unaware of.
The Data They Collect, The Policies No One Reads
A survey of 55 Nigerian EdTech platform users found that 42% never read privacy policies, while only 38% skim through them. “It’s like they intentionally make it bulky so people won’t read it. Consent should be requested before sending data to third parties,” said Mishak Mosimabale, an ALX alumnus.
Another learner, Kabir Azeez, echoed similar sentiments: “The privacy policy is too much to read and understand. I just checked the box and proceeded.”
ALX’s privacy policy confirms that the platform collects personal data such as names, email addresses, educational background, IP addresses, and device/browser type. According to the policy, data may be obtained directly from users, from partners, or through automated means (like cookies). The policy outlines that personal information may be used for service delivery, marketing, research, and legal compliance. It also states:
“We may share your personal information with our affiliates, service providers, business partners, or as required by law.”
While the platform affirms a commitment to lawful processing and security of data, some users remain unsure of how much control they have, as Lawal Hassan noted.
The Promise and the Price of AI Learning
AI-driven platforms promise personalised learning experiences, adaptive feedback, and accelerated skill acquisition. But behind this promise lies another reality—data collection.
Hope Rubainu, an EdTech representative from ALX_Nigeria, confirmed that data is used to understand platform usage but insisted, “We don’t send out our data to anybody. It’s just for the company… your details are private and will never be shared with anybody.”
“Being a tech company, we know what data is… ALX complying with Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023 is for the lawyer to handle. Privacy and policy is not actually too much to read,” she added.
The privacy policy is over 4,000 words long.
Legal Framework vs. Ground Reality
Nigeria’s 2023 Data Protection Act and the 2019 Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT mandate data localisation and outline penalties for violations. Companies handling over 10,000 data subjects can be fined up to 2% of their annual gross revenue or N10 million, according to KPMG.
Yet enforcement remains inconsistent. Digital/Data Protection Law expert Oladipupo Ige, ESQ, explains, “EdTech platforms copy each other’s privacy policies, and users don’t understand what they’re consenting to”.
“There is no informed consent,” he claims.
Nigeria’s data laws aim to protect users, but enforcement gaps persist. The image is AI-generated.
Reports by organisations like CIPESA and Luminate emphasise that privacy is a fundamental right. As one report puts it, privacy is essential for free expression, political participation, and human dignity. Treating privacy as merely a checkbox undermines these values.
What Learners Say: Trust, Awareness, and Consent
The learner reported not recalling ever reading any privacy document. Ruth Aleshinloye, a fellow under the 3MTT initiative, said, “I’m not aware of or recall seeing their privacy and policy. But I would support better transparency so that people can know what’s being done with their data.”
As AI-powered EdTech expands, balancing innovation with learner privacy is essential (AI-generated IMG)
Others, like Oluwafunke Faleye, said, “I always check the box without reading. I trust them with my data because they have a reputation to protect.”
This mismatch between trust and actual awareness creates an accountability gap.
What’s at Stake: The Future of Responsible EdTech
Nigeria’s EdTech sector is expanding rapidly, with increased investment in AI-driven learning platforms. However, findings from this investigation and expert opinions suggest that without stronger safeguards for clarity, consent, and accountability, learners may unknowingly surrender more control over their data than they realise — raising questions about who truly benefits from this digital transformation.
Oladipupo Ige warns, “EdTech platforms aren’t being held accountable for data privacy. The landscape is loosely regulated.”
Learners seek empowerment, but often at the cost of control over their data. IMG: A community of 3MTT fellows.
According to expert observations and learner feedback, simplifying privacy policies, ensuring clear data usage disclosure, and adopting ethical AI practices are crucial steps for EdTech platforms to truly empower Nigerian youth, rather than risk exploiting their data.
By Shukurah Omowumi JUNAID
CJID AI and Tech Reporting fellow
“This report was produced with support from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and Luminate.”
All AI-generated images used in this report were tagged and indicated appropriately. All factual references were cross-verified using primary sources such as ALX Africa’s official policy and expert interviews.