A scholar of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Idara Bassey, has been named the 263rd Certified Global Tech Hero by the prestigious Connected Awards, in recognition of her pioneering work at the intersection of law, technology, and ethics.
The commission in a statement said, Bassey, who received an NDDC scholarship in 2023,studied Intellectual Property and Technology Law at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA. Since completing her Master’s degree, she has acquired globally recognized certifications in artificial intelligence governance and privacy practice, strengthening her expertise in privacy-by-design, AI risk assessment, and digital policy formulation.
Her contributions have been pivotal in shaping national-scale digital infrastructure, integrating privacy safeguards and operational standards into identity and security systems that benefit millions of users. These interventions have significantly reduced cyber vulnerabilities while enhancing protections at the community level.
The Connected Awards spotlighted Bassey’s unique ability to translate governance principles into systems that protect people and create lasting social value — a hallmark of her professional journey.
Her recognition places her among a select group of global innovators redefining the ethical and legal frameworks of emerging technologies. For the NDDC, her achievement underscores the impact of its scholarship programme in cultivating world-class professionals driving transformative change beyond the Niger Delta.
