11 data protection companies get NITDA’s licences

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued licenses to 11 data protection companies.

This was disclosed at a one day Media Executives’ MasterClass on Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019 organised by the agency in Abuja.

The Director General of the agency, Kashifu Inuwa, who was represented by a Director at NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said  the agency took the initiative to ensure maximum protection of Nigerians’data from possible breach,  and to ensure that Nigeria is not blacklisted from the rest of the world in doing genuine business.

He also stated that out of the 11 licensees, 6 had started recruiting staff for the commencement of work in line with the government policy of building capacity and  job creation.

In addition, Olatunji said approval had been given by the presidency to license additional 16 companies.

As part of the efforts to ensure strict compliance, he said, the agency recently signed MoU with the European Union data Protection agency, making Nigeria the first African nation to take such a bold step.

Earlier, NITDA Desk Officer, Mr. Olufemi Daniel, said NITDA a lot of data controllers and hosts had been found guilty of breaching peoples’ right.

This he said made it imperative for Nigerians to put their feet on ground to protect themselves from possible data breach considering its damaging effects.