NEPC partners data commission to secure exporters data

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have agreed to provide a framework that will safeguard personal and corporate

By Lucy Ogalue

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have agreed to provide a framework that will safeguard personal and corporate transactions within the exporting community.

The Executive Director of NEPC, Nonye Ayeni said this while receiving the National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatuniji in her office on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ayeni said there was a need to protect these sensitive data to ensure that Nigerian businesses remain competitive in global trade.

She said this was crucial, especially with the huge number of registered exporters in the country, striving to fulfill several international contract obligations for the export of Made-in-Nigeria products.

She observed that safeguarding personal and corporate data would further attract positive endorsements from the international community and help increase in Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into the country.

Responding, the NDPC commissioner said that the Commission’s mandate was primarily to collaborate with critical stakeholders to safeguard the rights of natural persons to data privacy.

Olatuniji said it aimed to foster safe conduct of transactions involving the exchange of personal data, prevent manipulation of personal data and ensure that Nigerian businesses remained competitive in international trade.

He said this was through the safeguards afforded by a just and equitable legal framework on data protection.

Olatunji implored the NEPC to establish a data protection and control unit to determine the purpose and manner for processing data.

According to the NDPC boss, this will ensure that the methods by which data is collected are strictly in line with the principles of data collection.

The commissioner then reiterated the commitment of NDPC to provide capacity building on data protection and control for officers of the Council to make NEPC compliant with global best practices. (NAN)