Nigeria launched investigations into over 1,000 educational institutions nationwide to ensure compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
The exercise encompasses federal and state universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and technical colleges, making it one of the largest sector-wide investigations since the law's passage.
According to Babatunde Bamigboye, head of legal, enforcement, and regulation at the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the investigation is part of a targeted "sector-by-sector" compliance drive aimed at protecting data subjects' rights while strengthening the legal framework for Nigeria's digital economy.
Within 21 days, institutions under evaluation must present documentation of their 2024 data protection compliance audit returns, designate a data protection officer with contact information, and provide summaries of organisational and technical safeguards for personal data.
Proof of registration as a Data Controller or Processor of Major Importance is also required. Noncompliance may result in enforcement orders, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution under the NDP Act.
As admissions and learning systems grow more digital, the education industry, which handles large volumes of sensitive student and staff data, faces increased danger of breaches.
This development marked the recently formed joint working group between the NDPC and the Federal Ministry of Education to improve data privacy compliance in schools.
The move came after NDPC's national commissioner/CEO, Vincent Olatunji, undertook a strategic working visit to minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa. The minister of state, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, was also present.
Dr Olatunji emphasised low compliance levels in schools and described the Commission's awareness initiatives, which included the Digital Privacy Awareness Campaign, Data Privacy Clubs in universities, the Secondary School Data Challenge, and the Adopt-A-School program, which reached approximately 8,000 students during National Privacy Week.
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