THE ROLE OF DATA GOVERNANCE IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: Observing Corporate Governance Practices of Privacy and Data Protection in Nigeria
Data governance refers to the framework, policies, processes, and standards that ensure data is managed and protected effectively within an organization. It encompasses data quality, security, privacy, compliance, and data lifecycle management.
Privacy is a fundamental human right, recognised by Section 37 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other conventions. Data privacy describes the practices which ensure that the data shared by customers is only used for its intended purpose, and the right of a citizen to have control over how personal information is collected and used.
Data protection on the other hand, is a legal mechanism that ensures privacy. It refers to the practices, policies, and procedures an organization implements to ensure they adhere to all legal regulations and standards concerning their users’ private information. These regulations balance a company’s need for collecting user data and an individual’s right to control their personal information.