‘Data Protection Is The Nucleus Of Digital Economy’

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

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,
monitored online by our reporter.

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.

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

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,
monitored online by our reporter.

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.