The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to strengthen data protection and privacy across Nigeria’s public sector and subnational institutions.
Speaking during the signing ceremony with the BPP, on Thursday, the National Commissioner of NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, commended the Bureau for prioritising privacy and data governance.
Olatunji in a statement by the commission’s, Head Media Unit, Itunu Dosekun, said data privacy had become a global imperative for building trust, confidence and credibility within the digital ecosystem.
“Data privacy is a global imperative for building trust, confidence, and credibility within the digital ecosystem.
The NDPC remains committed to supporting the integration of robust data protection standards within Nigeria’s procurement sector,” he said.
The Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ethical data management and compliance with global best practices.
According to him, the increasing adoption of technology in government operations has heightened the need for stronger safeguards to protect sensitive information.
“We recognise that the unlawful disclosure of government information is a criminal offence.
As we embrace technology, there is a growing need to strengthen safeguards for the protection of sensitive information,” Adedokun stated.
As part of the partnership, the NDPC offered 50 Virtual Privacy Academy vouchers to BPP staff to support capacity development in data protection and privacy.
Adedokun welcomed the initiative and proposed expanded training opportunities for the Bureau’s 453 procurement officers nationwide.
In a related development, the NDPC also signed an MoU with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to strengthen data protection and privacy frameworks across states.
Speaking at the event, Olatunji said compliance with data protection obligations was critical to deepening privacy frameworks nationwide and enhancing investor confidence.
“Compliance with data protection obligations is critical to strengthening privacy frameworks across our states, thereby accelerating nationwide adoption, enhancing investor confidence, as well as foreign direct investment,” he said.
The Director-General of the NGF, Abdulateef Shittu, described the partnership as a strategic move toward securing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and promoting responsible data governance at the subnational level.
“This partnership with the NDPC is a strategic step towards securing Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and advancing responsible data governance at the subnational level,” he said.
To ensure effective implementation of the agreements, the NDPC said working groups had been established with both the BPP and NGF to develop actionable frameworks for swift execution of the partnerships.
