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Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), recently received Sanjay Jain, Director of Digital Public Infrastructure, and Olubunmi Okunowo, Senior Program Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for a knowledge-sharing meeting.
During the session, Dr. Olatunji provided a comprehensive overview of the NDPC, highlighting the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model adopted to ensure compliance with data protection regulations. He emphasized the Commission’s strategic priority of collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders, including regulators, Data Protection Authorities, and multinational corporations.
Dr. Olatunji addressed critical issues such as data sovereignty, data localization, and data classification, underscoring the significance of awareness in strengthening data protection in Nigeria. He noted that awareness is a key pillar of the Commission’s strategic roadmap and highlighted the Nigeria Data Protection Act as one of the most progressive data protection laws globally.
In response, Mr. Jain stressed the importance of awareness within the data protection ecosystem. He discussed the necessity of effective structures to address data breaches and emphasized the critical role of obtaining consent for data exchange, especially within the financial sector. Mr. Jain also explored opportunities for integrating technology into data protection efforts.
The meeting also included discussions on potential areas for collaboration between the NDPC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aiming to enhance data protection measures and compliance in Nigeria.
