TECH DIGEST – Data protection is the nucleus of digital economy, the CEO of Data Services Protection Limited (DSPL), Mr. Tunde Balogun, has said.

Mr Balogun, who is also the convener of the Association of Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations of Nigeria (ALDPCON), said Nigeria’s increasing official interest in data is because government is coming to terms with data as the real asset of the new or digital economy.

He spoke, on Sunday, during a training session for some ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in Ibadan, Oyo state.

According to him the Federal Government in its wisdom, through the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), issued the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) of 2019 as the principal data protection legislation to address concerns around privacy and protection of personal data which also focuses on the grave consequences of leaving personal data processing unregulated.

The NDPR issued by the NITDA on 25 January 2019 pursuant to Section 32 of the NITDA Act 2007 as subsidiary legislation to the NITDA Act 2007 is only a purveyor of the wider sets of data legislations now at the National Assembly expected to guide Nigeria’s data protection journey and march into the digital economy said Balogun whose company is licensed to operate as a Data Protection Organisation (DPCO).

DPCOs are licensed under the NDPR to provide professional data protection services to public and private entities. There about over 70 licensed DPCOs tasked with monitoring compliance to the NDPR.

Balogun, whose company offer data protection tasks for a number of private and public clients including the governments of Plateau and Oyo states, admitted that there is a growing awareness among stakeholders on data as an asset worth a high level of protection.

“The good thing is that some of our people are beginning to understand why data must be protected in all ramifications. Plateau state started this journey last year. Also, a good example is the government of Oyo state where we are currently implementing data protection services for about eight ministries, departments and agencies as part of the first phase of the scheme,” he said.

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TECH DIGEST – Oyo State Government has entered into agreement with Data Protection Services Limited (DSPL) to help in the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
By law, all public and private organisations that process the personal data of more than 1000 data subjects in a period of six months and 2000 data subjects in a period of 12 months must submit a Data Protection Audit Report to National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

According to NDPR provisions, the submission is annual and mandatory. Data protection audit filing must be not later than March 15 of every year.

All public and private entities handling data must comply with the NDPR and only DPCOs are licensed to ensure compliance.

DSPL is one of the data protection compliance organizations (DPCOs) licensed by the NITDA to provide such services.

To this end, among others, part of the services DSPL will be delivering in Oyo include: trainings and awareness creation for employees of the state on data privacy policies for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs); collection of data, disposal of data; and audit of the state’s MDAs to assess their level of data protection maturity.

Speaking on the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer of DSPL Nigeria Limited, Tunde Balogun, said that DSPL will immediately commence work with the State Government on data protection related matters.

As a leading data protection company, DSPL is already providing similar services for the Plateau State, central Nigeria.

TechDigest gathered that it has particularly guiding the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) to meet the compliance requirements of the NDPR.

The NITDA introduced the NDPR in 2019 and is designed to safeguard the right of natural persons to data privacy, foster safe conduct of transactions involving exchange of personal data.

MDAs handle largest data at risk of breaches
Now doubt, the new deal in Oyo State will further consolidate DSPL’s professional presence as a leading data protection company with immense experience servicing the public sector to meet the compliance requirements of the NDPR.

“The MDAs of governments, whether Federal or State, in the country handle the largest amount of personal data that could be easily compromised, thereby leading to a breach of the NDPR. As a professional company, DSPL guides clients through a mix of complex awareness tools and trainings to ensure they meet the requirements of the law as specified annually,” said Balogun.

The NDPR sets out to deal comprehensively with the protection of the personal information of Nigerian citizens and anyone resident in Nigeria.

“We are an organisation founded to meet the unique needs of each of our clients and provide a workable framework allowing them to meet their compliance obligations under the law,” added Balogun while assuring the state government of the company’s commitment to ensure it meets the NDPR guidelines in real-time.

Data drives digital economy
Data drives the digital economy and as Nigeria repositions to become more digitised, data merits and risks will be higher requiring increased government oversight role and regulation, said Balogun.

His words: “Data compliance is a critical issue as we become more technology driven and adhere to the tenets of a digital economy.”

DSPL’s services include NDPR Gap Analysis, allowing companies to effectively be data processors or controllers in relation to information about customers, employees and suppliers as ruled under the NDPR; Security Level to identify databases and their required security level; Website Compliance including website scanning for compliance gaps with NDPR cookies and consent requirements; Corporate Governance Procedures that covers updating and writing of corporate governance documents, procedures, guidelines and information security procedures; and Mapping for mapping organizational computer systems and databases as well as Mapping of data processing activities.

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TECH DIGEST – Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Kashifu Inuwa, D-G of NITDA and other dignitaries at the public presentation of the NDPR Performance Report, 2019-2020. Dr Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, on Friday said that the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) is a tool for fostering developmental regulation and ensuring digital economy. Pantami said this at the Public Presentation of the NDPR Performance Report, 2019-2020, by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja. By Clever Advertising The NDPR, established on January 25, 2019, is designed to ensure the protection, prevent manipulation of personal data, ensure Nigerian businesses were competitive in the international space by safeguarding data through a legal regulatory framework, Pantami explained that NDPR was formulated as a subsidiary legislation crafted to match all the foundation principles of data protection in line with global practices. The minister also said that the regulation is an implementation tool for the eight pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS). “The first pillar of the NDEPS is Developmental Regulation and the NDPR gives confidence to citizens that their data is safe as long as they are innocent,’’ he said. According to him, the integrity of the digital economy relies on protection of data and the NDPR supports the development of digital economy. He further said that the developmental regulation pillar of NDEPS facilitates the enactment of appropriate legislation that ensures protection of digital technology infrastructure. “It enhances national security, supports issuance of converged regulations, and addresses multiple taxation for health business environment.’’ He commended achievements through the NDPR, adding that it had created 2,686 jobs for Data Protection Officers, and generated more than N2 billion in the first year of implementation. Pantami added that 42 African countries out of 53 who had formulated their data protection laws, made reference to the NDPR, hence recognising Nigeria as the giant in Africa. He, however, commended NITDA on the report and urged them to circulate same to the National Assembly, embassies, international agencies, government agencies, private sector players, the academia, other stakeholders for better implementation. Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, said the concept of launching the NDPR in 2019 is beyond protection of personal data. Inuwa said it is helping the country diversify to digital economy and also in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda on lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty. He mentioned that the regulation created jobs and licenses 70 Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs). “With the NDPR, NITDA was appointed as the Vice Chair of the African Union on Policy and Regulatory Initiative for Digital Africa. Mr Tunde Balogun, Convener, Association of DPCOs, urged NITDA to focus on enforcement of the regulation and leave its operationalisation to DPCOs. Dr Saidu Abubakar, Chairman, NITDA Governing Board, said that good achievements such as the impact of the NDPR should be projected more. Abubakar added that such achievements are improving the socio-economic development of citizens and the nation.

Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/pantami-says-nitdas-ndpr-apt-for-developmental-regulation/

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