By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service, represented by CSC DO Anikoh and CSC OF Obieze, has conducted a dialogue aimed at fostering international cooperation on adopting and implementing a Data Governance Framework aligned with global best practices.
The UNCTAD E-Week 2023 conference, which was held at the Centre International de Conférences de Genève (CICG) from December 4 to 8, shed light on the indispensable need for robust data governance, particularly in developing countries.
The session convened experts from both the public and private sectors to deliberate on key aspects such as accuracy, security, and standardisation in data governance.
Steven Pope from DHL stressed the importance of stringent controls on data sharing to prevent misuse, while Javier Garcia from the Universal Postal Union highlighted the necessity for national data governance frameworks to align with global provisions.
Crucial facets of the discussion included fair compensation for data analysts, the role of data analysts in specialised agencies, addressing data quality and integrity, challenges faced by startups in accessing real data, and the opportunities and challenges of accessing private company data for policy-making.
A recurring theme was the need for international regulations to prevent data misuse. The consensus echoed the sentiment that data governance is fundamental to digital transformation.
Developing countries were urged to manage data on macro, regional, and international levels. The session stated the vital role of data sharing and usability between the private sector and regulatory institutions, focusing on privacy, security, and sustainable development.
In the context of e-commerce supply chain businesses, the discussion recognised data governance as essential to reducing risks and ensuring data accuracy.
It called for understanding data structures, protecting accessed data, and implementing standards and technology.
Legal frameworks, such as the USMCA in Latin America and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), were emphasised to prevent unauthorised disclosure.
The discussion highlighted that data storage is a global issue for agencies, and effective data governance streamlines management, improving efficiency.
Government and regulatory agencies were urged to adapt to changing data governance, especially in mobile money and e-commerce data systems.
Facilitating cross-border data flows was discussed, with higher-level standards like the GDPR seen as beneficial, albeit with acknowledged concerns about non-uniform standards.