The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global payments giant, Mastercard, to strengthen data protection capacity and compliance in Nigeria.

The agreement was sealed on Friday during a one-day intensive workshop for Data Protection Officers (DPOs) held in Abuja, aimed at enhancing practical skills for conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) in accordance with Section 28 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

Speaking at the event, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said the partnership is a significant step toward professionalizing data protection in Nigeria and deepening compliance across sectors.

“We are targeting to build the capacity of 250,000 certified Data Protection Officers annually, and we are working with partners like Mastercard to achieve that,” Olatunji announced.

He emphasized that human capital development remains a core focus of the Commission’s regulatory agenda, noting that Nigeria’s data ecosystem is still in its infancy and requires urgent upskilling of professionals.

“Human capital is really key to us. The ecosystem we are regulating is very special—it is still new, still emerging—and we need all we can to build the capacity of officers,” he said.

Olatunji urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity, citing the evolving nature of Nigeria’s data protection landscape and the growing need for skilled practitioners.

Nigeria’s data protection sector has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, spurred by the country’s digital transformation and rising demand for compliance services. According to NDPC data, the sector generated N12 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach N13.8 billion in 2025, a 15% increase.

In its 2024 Annual Report, the Commission disclosed that it created 23,000 jobs in the data protection industry—up from 10,123 in 2023—representing a 127% growth. Verified Data Protection Officers also increased to 2,888 in 2024 from 1,955 the previous year.

The NDPC has also intensified enforcement, imposing over N400 million in fines on seven companies for various data breaches as of June 2024. More than 1,000 investigations were conducted across sectors such as financial services and digital lending platforms.

Looking ahead, the Commission warned that from 2025, it would begin imposing stiffer penalties on data controllers and processors who flout provisions of the NDPA.

The partnership with Mastercard marks a major milestone in NDPC’s effort to build a robust and accountable data protection ecosystem, driven by skilled professionals and strong regulatory enforcement.

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TECHDIGEST – Mastercard has stated that it will train one million Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises in finance in five years.

The company stated that it will collaborate with Alerzo to provide small businesses with training and expertise.

In a statement, Mastercard noted that the partnership with Alerzo would see it provide digital payment solutions, financial training, and access to credit to SMEs in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods sector.

According to the firm, this will help businesses increase their sustainability and success in the market.

It stated it would leverage Alerzo’s expertise in B2B e-commerce and its global infrastructure and network to make digital payments more accessible to businesses of all sizes.

It added that the partnership would enable it to offer a range of innovative solutions, including VeedezPay, a digital payment solution designed for informal and small businesses; VeedezPro, a business management tool tailored for SMEs, and ERP solutions for more established businesses.

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Commenting on the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer of Alerzo Ltd, Adewale Opaleye, said, “We are excited to partner with Mastercard to support the growth and success of SMEs in Nigeria.

“With our combined expertise and resources, we look forward to continuing to provide training, financial support, and innovative payment solutions to businesses in Nigeria. These solutions could be a game-changer, especially for our informal retailers, who often get overlooked.”

The Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa at Mastercard, Ebehijie Momoh, also stated, “Nigerian small businesses have proved their resiliency in recent years, but still face many pressures to remain profitable.

“Through our partnership with Alerzo, we are excited to combine our expertise and resources to drive digital transformation and financial inclusion, providing training and solutions that enable Nigerian businesses to thrive.

This collaboration will play a crucial role in digitising payments and supporting the growth and success of Nigerian businesses.”

He noted that the lack of digitisation had been a major obstacle for SMEs in the country, hindering their ability to tap into new sales opportunities, track sales and inventory, and access credit to grow their businesses.

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TECHDIGEST– Mastercard, in collaboration with the Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads for Nigeria (CeBIH), has taken a bold step towards combating fraud and cybersecurity threats by hosting a groundbreaking Cyber Security Forum in Lagos, Nigeria. With cyber risk being one of the top concerns organizations face today, this annual event aims to address the escalating challenges faced by Nigeria in terms of cybersecurity and fraud.

The statistics are alarming. According to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), a staggering 91% of fraudulent attacks were successful in the past year, resulting in substantial financial losses.

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The Anti-Corruption Agencies of Nigeria have revealed that illicit financial crimes drain nearly $18 billion from the economy annually. As digital payments and services continue to rise, organizations become increasingly vulnerable to pervasive, sophisticated, and intelligent security threats.

Recognizing the urgent need for proactive risk management, Mastercard, through the Cyber Security Forum, provided valuable insights into the regional cyber threat landscape. With a particular focus on the financial services sector, which has become a prime target for cybercriminals, attendees gained a deeper understanding of common attack methods, motivations, and targeted assets.

Cutting-edge fraud prevention techniques and tools were showcased, including Mastercard’s strategic threat intelligence data. This advanced analytics solution employs real-time monitoring to identify potential threats, ensuring rapid detection and prevention of fraudulent activities while enhancing customer service and account protection.

Celestina Appeal, the Chairman of the Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH), emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in the payment ecosystem to effectively combat cyber-attacks. Highlighting the relentless nature of cybercriminals’ schemes and their constant innovation, she urged concerted efforts to prevent continuous cybersecurity attacks.

Mastercard’s Cyber Security Forum aligns perfectly with its vision of creating a secure and seamless payments environment. By empowering customers with the latest knowledge and tools, this initiative equips businesses with the necessary defenses to safeguard against evolving cyber threats.

Furthermore, as part of their commitment to fighting fraud, Mastercard proudly sponsors the CeBIH Quarterly sessions. These gatherings provide a platform for industry experts to share insights on the latest trends in fraud prevention and disseminate best practices for customer protection while promoting cyber security throughout Nigeria and beyond.

In the battle against cybercrime, Mastercard stands at the forefront, arming organizations with the means to protect themselves, their customers, and the integrity of the financial ecosystem. The Cyber Security Forum heralds a new era of proactive defense, fostering collaboration and empowering businesses to stay one step ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of digital threats.

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TECHDIGEST – Mastercard recently announced that it was partnering with Network International, an enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa, to address fraud, declines and chargebacks in order to reduce costs and risk for acquirers.

Through the partnership, Network will launch Mastercard’s Brighterion Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology across the region, providing transaction fraud screening and merchant monitoring to acquirers and businesses.

According to the Nilson Report, payment card fraud losses are projected to hit $49 billion by 2030. Furthermore, 68 per cent of card fraud losses in 2020 were related to transactions where cards were not physically present. McKinsey estimates that AI technologies could potentially deliver up to $1 trillion of additional value each year. With its sophisticated AI, Brighterion learns the warning signs of fraud and alerts acquirers and merchants in real-time to prevent the completion of fraudulent transactions and costly chargebacks.

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In 2019, Mastercard made a strategic $300 million investment as a cornerstone investor in Network, followed by an additional commitment towards developing innovative payment solutions. As part of this partnership, Mastercard supports Network via Brighterion’s AI technology, which combats the risk of fraud, reducing the operational overhead on acquirers and merchants while improving the experience for customers.

Division President, Middle East and North Africa, Mastercard, Khalid Elgibali, said: “At Mastercard, we provide capabilities and services beyond card payments, using the latest cutting-edge technology to stay ahead of fraudsters as we secure the full payments ecosystem. Brighterion Artificial Intelligence capabilities are helping to reduce fraud and merchant risk, leading to safer transactions and a better consumer experience.”

Group Chief Executive Officer, Network International, Nandan Mer, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Mastercard and expect to launch this revolutionary new AI technology across the region early this year. Adding Brighterion to Network’s range of solutions allows us to enhance our ability to provide financial institutions, merchants and their customers with safe, secure and seamless processing.”

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TECHDIGEST – In view of the fact that Lagos State has continued to maintain itself as a viable community with the strongest unicorn of innovation in the Nation, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has reiterated the Agency’s commitment towards giving the ecosystem the needed support to boost the sector’s contribution to the economy and strengthen the value chain.

He made the pledge during a dinner meeting with some key stakeholders of Lagos Ecosystem, including representatives from Microsoft, MasterCard, Norebase, among others.

Inuwa while suing for trust, and strengthening of the value chain deliberated on the best way to accelerate growth and support startups in the country, said “there are lots of distrust within the government and the ecosystem, so much that the only way to engender trust between the two entities is to have this conversation”.

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The Director-General assured the group of his unrelenting support to the ecosystem which he maintained would be his return base upon retirement from government service, emphasised the need for collaborations across the board to achieve a faster and more sustainable digital economy.

“We cannot succeed in isolation; we need each other to succeed. Innovation is not distributed evenly across the world. Innovation and digital economy is about humans”.

“A company is as good as its next product and its products are as good as the person or people who make them. This underscores the relevance of talents. If you don’t have the requisite skills and talents, then it is no deal”, he added.

The DG seized the opportunity to share his thoughts on different issues bordering on investments, partnerships, commercialisation of innovations, enabling policies and acquisition of relevant skills as well as trainings.

“At NITDA, we are reenacting our act and laws to make it more robust so that we protect the ecosystem”, Inuwa stated.

The NITDA Boss whose friendly body language gave the forum some sort of a relaxed atmosphere was keen on listening to their opinions and suggestions on how to get the ecosystem perform much better.

“The sector we are in is dynamic and we must move with its pace, so we don’t play catch ups or get left far behind. We must disrupt the way we do things and bring to bear professionalism, innovations that will solve indigenous problems but have global impact”, the DG urged.

While taking turns to share their ideas and challenges, some of the representatives touched on diverse areas of concern and specialisations, including soliciting for government support in the development of hardware space, funding, talents, procurements, local content enforcement, mitigating gateways, policy timings and changes, data protection and management, digital skills framework, standardisation and others.

Reacting to their comments and questions, the Director-General extensively explained the efforts of NITDA under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and by extension, the Federal Government in addressing most of the issues deliberated.

The Start-up Bill was also on the front burner of his response as the DG quickly reminded them that most of the concerns raised would soon be rested, given the recent passage of the Bill into law by the National Assembly.

He assured the startups of a speedy and effective implementation of the bill to deal with the bottlenecks experienced and in the process, fast track the anticipated growth of the ecosystem.

Moreso, Inuwa highlighted the Code of Practice for Interactive Platforms as another document that is expected to engender appropriate monitoring to enforce compliance to established regulations guiding the sector, while seeking for their contribution to the document.

“We need to decide what and what are the right regulations so that every startup and industry player would have a Code of Practice that works for everyone and is adhered to the latter. Also, I think we need to form a union for Startup Ecosystem”, Inuwa added.

The engagement with Lagos ecosystem ended with a resolve by all parties to forge ahead against all odds but not just as an ecosystem but a more united and prepared for the future tasks.

The meeting was part of NITDA’s stride towards making Nigeria a talent hub for Africa and possibly the digital world, especially as there are several reports indicating a global talent shortage.

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TECHDIGEST – Mastercard and Ecobank Group have partnered to connect millions of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa to Mastercard’s Farm Pass – a digital platform that makes it safer and easier for farmers to sell their produce at a fair price.

Under the partnership, Ecobank will extend the reach and impact of the Mastercard Farm Pass platform leveraging its Pan-African network of 33 countries. Many smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa face several challenges. These include limited access to markets, working capital to finance activities or secure quality inputs, and relevant financial tools to pay and get paid efficiently. This has led to insecurity, inefficiencies, and a waste of resources and food, preventing farmers from running sustainable businesses.

Farm Pass brings together various agri-sector stakeholders from the supply and demand sides, in one agricultural marketplace, amplifying the collective positive impact on farming communities. Smallholder farmers can sell their produce at a better price, access quality inputs and farming information, get paid and pay digitally and develop a financial profile that can unlock financing opportunities for working capital and inputs.

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According to McKinsey and Company, more than 60% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa are smallholder farmers, with the agricultural sector contributing an estimated 23% of the continent’s GDP. Yet only 3% of the sector receives banking credit, limiting the farmers capacity to grow their business or mitigate poor harvest losses.

By integrating their businesses with payment systems, Farm Pass enables smallholder farmers to build a digital transaction record that can facilitate formal credit or other financial services from banks and other financial institutions.

“Food security is a critical and urgent need in these times. We must therefore rise to the task by creating growth opportunities across the agriculture value chain in Africa. Our partnership with Mastercard has come at the right time to accelerate smallholder farmers’ access to urgently needed financial services, which are vital to realising Africa’s full agricultural potential.

“It will also help deliver value across the farming and agricultural value chain to make farming in Africa more profitable, competitive, and resilient, thus contributing to the economic growth of the continent,” says Ade Ayeyemi, CEO of Ecobank Group.

“When we empower people, we can power economies and support economic growth that is truly inclusive. Mastercard Farm Pass contributes to this by offering a digital platform that makes it easier for smallholder farmers to move from subsistence to commercial farming. This, in turn, will stimulate agricultural growth, increase competitiveness, and improve food security in Africa.

“Through close collaborations with important partners like Ecobank, we can create even more impact, putting the digital economy to work for everyone, everywhere,” says Michael Froman, Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth at Mastercard.

“The Mastercard Farm Pass collaboration with Ecobank Group fits well with the intent of the African Development Banks’s recently approved Africa Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF), which is to support countries to boost production and productivity on the continent for key staples. One of the key activities of AEFPF is to connect farmers through e-wallet systems, i.e. digitizing the procurement of agro inputs and at the same time allowing for reaching farmers in a transparent manner, which will truly revolutionize the transformation of agriculture,” says Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, African Development Bank Group.

Since its launch in 2015, Mastercard Farm Pass has reached nearly one million smallholder farmers in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and India, enabling them to command 25%-50% higher prices and increase harvest productivity. Farm Pass is part of Mastercard’s strategy to connect underserved communities to essential services through Community Pass, a shared interoperable digital platform that supports the company’s commitment to connect one billion people and 50 million small and micro businesses to the digital economy by 2025.

Source : ITedgenews

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TECHDIGEST – In the early days of mobile payment, payment processing providers offered banks and merchants free legacy hardware like Automated Teller machines, ATMs and Point of Sale, POS terminals to make their transactions easy.

These terminals only read the magstripe details of debit or credit cards and authenticate commands which helped complete transactions. They were later upgraded to reading chips embedded on payment cards when the world moved to Chip and Pin technology due to vulnerabilities and security breaches inherent in the Magstripe technology.

Despite the upgrades, ATM machines and POS terminals are often found to fail or delay services owing to network issues.

But in an omnichannel environment where consumers increasingly want more choice to pay the way they want to, the dynamic nature of the technology world would not only keep innovation a going concern, it will also keep payment processing technology ever-evolving. Consequently, the payment landscape has witnessed tech innovations like the Near Field Communications, NFC Technology which has also engendered innovations such as a tap on phone systems of payment. This innovation turns the mobile phone into a payment device, just by mere tapping of a payment card on it. It simplifies the payment process by removing steps, like swiping or inserting a credit card, which could create barriers to commerce or produce disjointed customer experiences.

Although these methods have long been in use in advanced countries, it is scarcely used or entirely nonexistent in most African countries.

However, a global payment and technology company, Mastercard, has just stepped in to bridge the gap. The payment giant says it is partnering with another leading enabler of digital commerce, Network International to introduce the Tap on Phone technology to payment transactions made on the Mastercard platforms across the Middle East and Africa.

The partnership targets 500,000 new merchants and SMEs who would accept payments through mobile phone, via Tap on Phone technology and thereby help in driving acceptance and innovation of digital payments across the region.

This will incidentally see to the end of POS terminals in Africa and considering the speedy penetration of mobile phones and the close attachment users have with their phones, it may not be surprising to see the terminals gradually vanishing from payment service points in the region.

The launch of Tap on Phone is part of Mastercard’s strategy to connect 50 million micro, small and medium-sized businesses, and 25 million women entrepreneurs globally to the digital economy by 2025 using its technology, network, expertise, and resources.

In support of the goal of building a more sustainable and inclusive digital economy, the company has pledged a whopping $250 million to the cause.

Senior Vice President, Head of Products, EEMEA, Mastercard, Gaurang Shah, said: “Small and medium-sized businesses are recognizing the potential of digitalization, and have identified digital payment acceptance among the top drivers for growth.

“They are crucial for systemic economic recovery, and by connecting more SMEs to digital commerce tools and affordable payment acceptance solutions, we are putting in place a strong foundation that can facilitate sustainable growth”

Also, Group Managing Director – Acquiring, Network International, Andrew Key, said: “Making sure that SMEs have all the support they need to go digital and grow digital is a key focus for Network International. As a leading enabler of commerce, we remain committed to connecting SMEs, the backbone of any economy, with innovative solutions that will drive wider acceptance across the region.

Tap on Phone powered by Mastercard Payment Gateway Services (MPGS), gives small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) the ability to accept payments through a smartphone. Customers will simply tap their card or device to make the payment on the SME merchant’s phone, with each transaction processed through MPGS.

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TECHDIGEST – Global payment and technology company, Mastercard, together with another leading industry operator, Network International, is rolling out ‘Tap on Phone’ technology across the Middle East and Africa, to expand digital payment acceptance, targeting SMEs in the region.

The companies say they are working closely with governments, financial organizations, fintech firms and the wider business community to create opportunities for SMEs across the region.
The Tap on Phone technology will be powered by Mastercard Payment Gateway Services, giving an estimated 500 000 SMEs in the Middle East and Africa the ability to accept payments through a smartphone.

Network International and Mastercard say that in an omni-channel environment where consumers increasingly want more choice to pay the way they want to, Tap on Phone is an innovative and welcome addition to the payment ecosystem.

The companies have a long-standing partnership, bringing together Mastercard’s expertise in payments and technology, and Network International’s digital payments capabilities that have a focus on security and innovation.

According to the partners, SMEs in the region are recognizing the potential of digitalization, and have identified digital payment acceptance among the top drivers for growth, hence the need to roll out the Tap on Phone technology.

For Africa, as digital innovation improves and internet access increases, digital payment solutions − such as contactless, virtual card numbers and quick response codes − have been on the rise.

Senior vice-president, head of products, EEMEA, Mastercard, Gaurang Shah, said, “Small businesses are crucial for systemic economic recovery, and by connecting more SMEs to digital commerce tools and affordable payment acceptance solutions, we are putting in place a strong foundation that can facilitate sustainable growth,”
“Mastercard is dedicated to empowering every business with the technology and solutions they need to thrive.”

“As a leading enabler of commerce, we remain committed to connect SMEs, the backbone of any economy, with innovative solutions that will drive wider acceptance across the region,” comments Andrew Key, group MD – acquiring, Network International.

“We are proud to partner with Mastercard to grow the opportunities for entrepreneurs through the launch of Tap on Phone.”
Also, Group Managing Director – Acquiring, Network International, Andrew Key, said: “Making sure that SMEs have all the support they need to go digital and grow digital is a key focus for Network International.

“As a leading enabler of commerce, we remain committed to connecting SMEs, the backbone of any economy, with innovative solutions that will drive wider acceptance across the region’’.

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