The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, paid a working visit to the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), His Excellency, Silas Ali Agara, at his office in Abuja.
During the visit, Dr Olatunji stated that the purpose of the visit was to create awareness and enlighten the NDE leadership on data protection and privacy, as well as the risks associated with the use of digital technologies that rely heavily on personal data. He stressed the importance of safeguarding personal data by all data controllers and processors, and outlined steps to ensure compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).
Dr Olatunji also urged the NDE to spread the message of compliance to its stakeholders and offered free capacity-building opportunities for its staff to help them integrate data protection principles into their day-to-day operations.
In his response, Mr Agara expressed appreciation for the visit and noted that, just as he would not want his own personal data compromised, it is essential for the NDE to fully comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act. He highlighted the Directorate’s Renewed Hope Employment Initiative, which recorded the registration of about 93,000 young Nigerians last year and over 21,000 more this year. He acknowledged the importance of protecting personal data, particularly as the agency transitions from analog to digital operations— including the registration process for the Initiative— and pledged to prioritise the security of the NDE’s database.
Mr Agara welcomed the offer of training and pledged that all officers responsible for processing personal data across the 36 states and the FCT would participate. He also expressed the NDE’s readiness to continue collaborating with the NDPC to ensure a culture of data protection and privacy is embedded in the employment sector, and beyond.
