In a significant step towards safeguarding personal data in Nigerian universities, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Vincent Olatunji, welcomed a delegation from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), led by its secretary general, Yakubu Ochefu.
This pivotal meeting centered on the pressing need to educate university leaders on data protection as they assume the new responsibility of chief data protection officers in their respective institutions.
Yakubu Ochefu emphasised the importance of equipping CVCNU members with knowledge and skills related to data protection.
With 264 universities under their purview, these vice-chancellors now play a critical role in ensuring the security and privacy of personal data within their campuses.
Ochefu proposed the idea of a capacity-building workshop to enable universities to adhere to the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 effectively, enhancing their ability to protect the personal data of students and staff alike.
In response to the CVCNU’s proactive stance, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner, lauded their efforts and highlighted the significance of the education sector in the context of data protection.
Given the vast amount of personal data processed within educational institutions, ensuring compliance with data protection laws is paramount.
Olatunji also underscored the potential benefits of this partnership, including fostering trust and confidence in data processing activities within universities and participating in the training of data protection officers to serve the needs of over 500,000 data controllers and processors across the country.
As a concrete step towards collaboration, a memorandum of understanding was established to facilitate joint efforts in enhancing data protection within Nigerian universities.
This partnership between NDPC and CVCNU signifies a crucial milestone in fortifying data security and compliance within the higher education sector, ultimately safeguarding the privacy of students and staff members.
