As part of its ongoing bilateral engagement with relevant authorities in France, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), led by the National Commissioner/CEO, Dr Vincent Olatunji, met with officials of Expertise France of the French Development Agency, and the leadership of the French Union of Data Protection Officers.

The meeting with Expertise France explored the prospects and challenges of data security, taking into account the disruptive nature of technologies in the modern digital economy. Delegates at the meeting identified potential areas of collaboration, particularly the need to strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises as crucial building blocks of economic development.

During the engagement with the French Union of Data Protection Officers, the delegates engaged in a peer-to-peer review of capacity development for Data Protection Officers (DPOs), and their pivotal role in helping organisations to implement adequate technical and organisational measures for data protection.

Dr Olatunji also shared Nigeria’s experience in domesticating the certification of DPOs. This process ensures that Nigeria creates a pool of globally competent experts in data privacy and protection. In the days ahead, the Nigerian and French experts have committed to working together with a view to developing initiatives for sustainable data governance.