NDPC, NIDCOM Partner To Boost Data Protection Awareness
As digital activity grows, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have stressed the need for greater public awareness of data protection and privacy rights among Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.
The emphasis followed a courtesy visit by the NDPC, led by its National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, to NiDCOM, where discussions focused on responsible handling of personal information, privacy awareness, staff capacity building and stronger collaboration on data protection.
Speaking during the visit, Olatunji in a statement issued by NiDCOM’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, emphasised the importance of protecting personal data, noting that individuals increasingly share information online and leave digital footprints that require responsible handling and adequate safeguards.
He stressed that data protection was particularly critical in sectors such as healthcare, where poor handling of personal information could result in misdiagnosis, wrong medication and, in extreme cases, loss of life.
He explained that the NDPC was established to strengthen Nigeria’s data protection framework and protect the rights, freedoms and interests of data subjects.
He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are required to process personal data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, while highlighting the Commission’s efforts in public awareness, capacity building and the development of certified data protection professionals.
Olatunji offered the NDPC’s support to NiDCOM through staff training, public awareness and the development of Data Protection Officers, assuring the Commission of its readiness to deepen institutional collaboration.
Responding, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, welcomed the offer to train NiDCOM staff, noting that data privacy was particularly important to the Commission given the nature and volume of information generated through its engagement with Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the contributions of Nigerians in the global technology space, particularly in Silicon Valley, and called for stronger partnerships with Nigerians in the Diaspora, including through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and greater integration into NiDCOM programmes and initiatives.
She also raised concerns about the extent to which individuals retain control over their personal information in the digital age, particularly when such information can be accessed or taken online without their permission.
She, therefore, called for increased public awareness of data protection rights and suggested consideration of a dedicated Diaspora desk to strengthen engagement between NiDCOM and the NDPC on Diaspora data.
The NiDCOM boss commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the Nigeria Data Protection Act, describing it as an important framework for strengthening the protection of personal data in Nigeria.
She added that NiDCOM had taken steps to align its digital systems with data protection requirements, revealing that its latest upgrade was undertaken with the support of a Nigerian based in Silicon Valley.
According to her, the upgrade was aimed at ensuring that NiDCOM remained abreast of evolving data protection standards and capable of responsibly managing information relating to Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The Head of Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI), Hon. Abdulrahman Terab, underscored the importance of data protection to NiDCOM’s Diaspora Data Mapping initiative, stressing that information collected to facilitate effective engagement with Nigerians in the Diaspora must be properly managed and protected.
He noted that NiDCOM’s Diaspora Data Mapping Portal predates the establishment of the NDPC, reflecting the Commission’s longstanding efforts to develop reliable data on Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Terab stressed that as NiDCOM continues to engage Nigerians in the Diaspora and collect information to support effective engagement, protecting such data must remain a priority.
He said stronger collaboration with the NDPC would help deepen awareness and capacity around data protection, ensuring that Nigerians understand the importance of protecting their personal information and knowing their rights as data subjects, while ensuring that data collected by institutions is handled responsibly, securely and in line with established data protection standards.
