Expert advises business owners on data protection compliance

A legal professional specialising in technology, Mr James Asikpo, has urged private sector businesses in Nigeria to protect their innovation through compliance with Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDFR).

Asikpo said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

He urged businesses to adopt a balanced approach that integrated data protection compliance into their business strategies rather than treating it as a barrier.

According to him, businesses can integrate data protection principles into product development from the start.

He said businesses should adopt anonymous, pseudo and encryption approaches to protect personal data without limiting analytics or innovation.

“NDPR requires organisations to file annual data audits with NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency) as well as help identify risks early.

“They can also focus resources on high-risk data processing activities and may use tiered compliance frameworks.

“This is to enable start-ups and small and medium enterprises not be overburdened compared to large corporations,” he said.

Outlining more key compliance strategies, Asikpo said businesses could automate consent management, data subject access requests, and breach notifications.

Asikpo said the NDPR encouraged partnerships with certified Data Protection Compliance Organisations for audits and training.

‘’Also, outsourcing compliance expertise lets businesses focus on innovation,‘’ he said.