As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen digital trust and advance responsible data practices across Africa’s digital economy, Mastercard has successfully onboarded all its employees in Nigeria onto the Nigeria Data Protection Commission’s (NDPC) flagship training platform, the Virtual Privacy Academy (VPA), designed to equip professionals with critical knowledge on personal data governance, lawful processing, cybersecurity hygiene, and emerging regulatory obligations.
The initiative comes amid rising concerns about data security, with privacy breach incidents surging 64% in Q1 2023 and the NDPC investigating 213 cases between 2023 and 2024, underscoring the urgent need for stronger data protection awareness.
The Division President for Africa at Mastercard, Mark Elliott, said “Privacy is not just a compliance requirement, it’s a core pillar of digital trust. We’re embedding privacy awareness into the fabric of our operations and supporting Nigeria’s digital rights agenda”.
Mastercard’s Deputy Chief Privacy, AI, and Data Responsibility Officer, Derek Ho, added: “The Virtual Privacy Academy is a landmark opportunity to scale privacy knowledge practically and impactfully. Our collaboration with NDPC equips professionals with the tools to make ethical, informed decisions that protect individuals while enabling innovation.”
On his part, National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, emphasized the broader impact of the partnership, “We are proud to work with Mastercard to deliver real-world solutions that strengthen Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem. The VPA will play a critical role in empowering professionals to uphold ethical data practices in a rapidly evolving digital landscape”.
With Africa’s digital payments market projected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, Mastercard says strengthening digital trust and embedding responsible data practices remain central to unlocking the continent’s growth potential.
Following the completion of employee training, Mastercard plans to extend VPA access to its vendors and suppliers in alignment with NDPC guidelines. The initiative builds on Mastercard’s wider collaborations with regulators, fintechs, MSMEs, and other stakeholders to foster a secure, inclusive, and trusted digital environment.
About the Author
