PERCEPTIONS OF DATA PROTECTION COMPLIANCE AMONG SOFTWARE ENGINEERS IN NIGERIA FINANCIAL TECH

Abstract

Data protection compliance has emerged as a central issue in Nigeria’s growing financial technology (FinTech) ecosystem, where vast amounts of sensitive personal data are processed daily. However, concerns remain regarding how well software engineers who create and manage FinTech systems understand and implement regulatory frameworks such as the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The study therefore, examined the perceptions of data protection compliance among software engineers in Nigerian FinTech companies. Specifically, the objectives of the study were to examine the level of familiarity of software engineers in Nigerian FinTech companies with data protection laws; assess how software engineers perceive their role in protecting user data and the extent to which they implement data protection practices; and identify the challenges software engineers face in complying with data protection regulations. The study adopted a mixed-methods design comprising a quantitative survey of 113 engineers and qualitative Key Informant Interviews with compliance managers across leading Lagos-based FinTech firms. The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between awareness of data protection laws and responsible compliance behaviour (r = .582, p < .01). However, practical compliance remains constrained by inadequate training, limited managerial support, and the absence of localized compliance tools. The study concludes that awareness alone is insufficient to ensure compliance unless it is supported by strong institutional frameworks and the integration of privacy-by-design principles into software development processes. It recommends, among other measures, the provision of hands-on data protection training for engineers, the integration of privacy considerations into all stages of software development, and investment in modern security tools.