Data Protection Key to Building Trust in E-Commerce — Olatunji

The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has stressed the importance of strong data privacy protections in building trust and supporting the growth of Nigeria’s e-commerce sector.

Olatunji stated this while delivering the keynote address and declaring open the Validation Workshop on the Data Privacy Framework for e-Commerce, organised by the NDPC in partnership with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).

He said the growth of e-commerce was central to the future of Nigeria’s digital economy but noted that businesses could only thrive when customers were confident that their personal data was being handled responsibly, securely and lawfully.

According to him, the Abuja workshop was designed to incorporate the perspectives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other public-sector stakeholders following an earlier validation session held with private-sector stakeholders in Lagos.

The NDPC boss said participants also examined the risks associated with the unlawful collection and processing of personal data, including profiling, as well as the consequences of non-compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

“At the heart of data protection is trust. A trusted digital marketplace encourages innovation, strengthens consumer confidence and creates an environment where businesses can grow sustainably,” Olatunji said.

He added that responsible data governance was essential to ensuring that Nigeria’s growing digital economy was built on privacy, accountability and trust.

Olatunji also appreciated GIZ for its continued support to the Commission and acknowledged the participation of public and private sector stakeholders, including Dr Karin Jansen, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, who represented the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther.

He said Nigeria could build a stronger digital economy where innovation and data protection advance hand in hand.