Mastercard has joined forces with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to boost privacy awareness nationwide.
The move includes enrolling staff in the Virtual Privacy Academy, reinforcing Nigeria’s digital trust and security framework.
Mastercard has partnered with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to promote privacy awareness and responsible data practices. This collaboration represents a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s digital trust ecosystem.
The company recently confirmed that all its employees in Nigeria have been onboarded onto the NDPC’s flagship training platform, the Virtual Privacy Academy (VPA).
The VPA, launched as part of the NDPC’s mandate, is designed to train professionals on personal data governance, lawful processing, cybersecurity hygiene, and compliance with evolving regulations. The platform draws on the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 and the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025 to provide context-specific training.
The initiative comes at a time when data security is under increasing scrutiny. Nigeria witnessed a 64% surge in data breach incidents in the first quarter of 2023 alone, while the NDPC recorded 213 privacy breach investigations between 2023 and 2024.
Speaking on the development, Mark Elliott, Division President for Africa at Mastercard, emphasized the importance of embedding privacy into corporate culture.
“Privacy is not just a compliance requirement; it’s a core pillar of digital trust. By enrolling all our Nigerian staff in the NDPC Virtual Privacy Academy, we are embedding privacy awareness into the fabric of our operations and supporting Nigeria’s digital rights agenda,” he said.
Derek Ho, Mastercard’s Deputy Chief Privacy, AI and Data Responsibility Officer, described the academy as a “landmark opportunity to scale privacy knowledge in a way that is both practical and impactful,” adding that the program equips professionals to make informed, ethical decisions that safeguard individuals while encouraging innovation.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, hailed the collaboration as a model for public-private partnership in data protection.
“We are proud to work with Mastercard to deliver real-world solutions that strengthen Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem. The Virtual Privacy Academy will play a critical role in empowering professionals with the knowledge and confidence to uphold ethical data practices in a rapidly evolving digital world,” he stated.
Following the successful onboarding of its Nigerian staff, Mastercard plans to extend access to the VPA to its vendors and suppliers, ensuring compliance throughout its value chain. This move aligns with NDPC guidelines and builds on Mastercard’s wider work with regulators, fintechs, and MSMEs to promote a secure and inclusive digital economy.
