The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) has reached out to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to collaborate on enhancing data protection awareness and practices in universities.
During their visit to NDPC’s National Commissioner/CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the Secretary-General of CVCNU, Professor Yakubu Ochefu, expressed the importance of educating members on data protection, especially following the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Professor Ochefu highlighted the readiness of Nigerian universities to contribute to the Act’s implementation, emphasizing that Vice Chancellors now have an added role as Chief Data Protection Officers in their institutions.
Universities prioritize data protection in collaboration with NDPC
He explained that data protection awareness has become crucial as universities handle personal information, grading systems, and various data-related tasks.
The CVCNU aims to collaborate with NDPC to organize capacity-building workshops for Vice Chancellors and Data Officers within universities, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
In response, Dr. Olatunji praised CVCNU’s efforts and recognized the significance of data protection in the education sector, which processes substantial volumes of personal data regularly.
NDPC and CVCNU are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding soon to formalize their partnership in advancing data protection initiatives within Nigerian universities.
