The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global payment solutions provider Mastercard to strengthen data protection efforts across the country.
The agreement was formalised during a workshop in Abuja, where 150 Data Protection Officers (DPOs) were trained on conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs). The training marked the commencement of activities for the 8th Nigeria Data Protection Conference (NADPA), further demonstrating the government’s commitment to advancing privacy and data governance.
Speaking at the event, NDPC’s Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to significantly increase the number of certified DPOs in Nigeria. He underscored the pivotal role of Nigeria’s digitally inclined youth in achieving the country’s data protection goals.
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“Human capital is key to us. The ecosystem we regulate is still new and emerging, so we must continue building the capacity of officers to effectively deliver on our mandate and deepen data privacy in Nigeria,” Olatunji said.
He revealed that the Commission aims to train 250,000 DPOs annually, working closely with strategic partners such as Mastercard to meet this target.
Also speaking at the workshop, Mastercard’s Deputy Chief Privacy Officer, Derek Ho, emphasised the importance of collaboration in fostering trust within the digital economy. He encouraged participants to remain proactive, noting that data protection is a constantly evolving field that demands continuous learning.
The partnership is expected to bolster Nigeria’s data protection infrastructure, ensuring that both public and private sector organisations can meet global standards in data privacy and digital security.
