If you have ever clicked “I agree” just to move on, you are not alone. In our rush to access digital services, it is a common reflex to accept the terms and conditions for apps and services. We often do this quickly, without fully understanding what personal data we are sharing or how it will be used Consent has become second nature, a box we tick without reading, a pop-up we swipe away.
What many do not realise is that consent is not the only legal reason your data can be used. There are other valid reasons for processing data, and understanding them can help you make smarter, safer choices online.
That is the conversation LegalBasis.ng, a new platform by Tech Hive Advisory, is here to start.
Filling the knowledge gap in data protection
In Nigeria, data protection is still a growing field. A lot of focus has been on consent. Once people say “yes,” they often feel that their part is done.
However, the Nigeria Data Protection Act outlines six legal bases for processing personal data. Consent is only one of them. The others include performance of contract, legal obligation, vital interest, public interest, and legitimate interest. Each applies to different situations, from an employer using staff information to process salaries to a hospital accessing a patient’s data in an emergency.
This creates a challenge on both sides. The average person can find the principles of data protection complex and unclear, while businesses are often unsure of the exact steps needed to remain compliant
LegalBasis.ng was built to bridge that gap and help people learn these concepts in a way that feels simple, practical, and relevant.
Making data protection easy to learn
On the legalbasis.ng platform, visitors can:
- Explore gamified learning modules that simulate real-life situations involving data use.
- Use interactive tools and guides to identify which legal basis applies in different contexts.
- Read simplified articles and explainers that make privacy concepts easy to grasp.
- Download tool kits and templates to help businesses stay compliant.
The experience revolves around one important question: “Do you know why your data is being processed?” By the time visitors leave the site, they should have a clearer understanding of how data protection works and why it matters to them.
Why simplifying data protection matters to you
For individuals, this knowledge is about empowerment. Understanding the legal bases behind data processing helps people make informed choices, what to share, when to ask questions, and how to hold organisations accountable.
For businesses, especially startups and small companies, the platform offers a simple guide to compliance. Many rely on consent forms even when other legal bases apply. Learning how to use the right one builds trust with customers and reduces legal risks. In essence, LegalBasis.ng is helping Nigerians move from ticking boxes to understanding their digital rights and responsibilities.
Legalbasis.ng was intentionally built using data protection by design principles, ensuring it is open, sets no cookies, conducts no user tracking, and stores all interactive data locally on the user’s device to eliminate data protection risks proactively.
The platform was created by Tech Hive Advisory, a technology policy and research organisation focused on making complex digital issues easy to understand with support from Meta. The project takes an educational approach that uses storytelling and design to drive real behavioural change around data awareness.
Looking ahead in data protection
The Legal Basis Project officially launched on October 13, 2025, bringing together experts, regulators, policymakers, civil society, academia, and innovators from across Nigeria’s data protection community.
As Nigeria’s digital economy grows, tools like LegalBasis.ng can help create a more informed and responsible data culture, one where people do not just give consent but also understand what it means. The platform is now live. As a business owner, a professional, or just someone curious about how your data is used, LegalBasis.ng has something for you, from interactive games to easy guides and tool kits.
Visit www.legalbasis.ng to learn more. When it comes to data protection, understanding why your data is being used is just as important as knowing what is being used.
Tech Hive Advisory Africa is a technology policy and research organisation working across the intersection of law, business, and technology. Our services consists policy advisory and research, regulatory intelligence, start-up & business advisory, cybersecurity, privacy & data protection, anti-money laundering compliance, digital health & emerging technologies. Our work emphasises on a client-centred approach leveraging stakeholder partnerships and collaboration. Some of our outputs include the State of Tech Policy Report, the Hive Pulse Point, Roundup on Data Protection in Africa, and Regulatory Digest. To learn more about what we do, please visit: https://www.techhiveadvisory.africa/, you can also reach us at: contact @techhiveadvisory.africa
