A legal professional specializing in technology, Mr James Asikpo, has urged private sector businesses in Nigeria to protect their innovations through compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
Asikpo said this during an interview with reporters in Abuja on Monday.
He advised businesses to adopt a balanced approach by integrating data protection compliance into their business strategies rather than treating it as a barrier.
According to him, organizations can embed data protection principles into product development from the outset.
He added that businesses should adopt anonymization, pseudonymous, and encryption methods to protect personal data without limiting analytics or innovation.
“The NDPR requires organizations to file annual data audit reports with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which also helps to identify risks early.
“They can also focus resources on high-risk data processing activities and may use tiered compliance frameworks.
“This will ensure that start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises are not overburdened compared to large corporations,” he said.
Outlining additional key compliance strategies, Asikpo said businesses could automate consent management, data subject access requests, and breach notifications.
He noted that the NDPR encourages partnerships with certified Data Protection Compliance Organizations for audits and training.
“Also, outsourcing compliance expertise allows businesses to focus on innovation,” he said
