Zoho has announced its commitment to supporting Nigerian businesses in adhering to the newly enacted Nigeria Data Protection Law (NDPL) by offering its Zoho Contracts feature free for three months. The announcement was made at Zoholics Nigeria, the company’s annual user conference, where Zoho underscored the importance of compliance amid the evolving data protection landscape in Nigeria.

The NDPL mandates that companies include data security and breach notification clauses in contracts, ensure third-party vendors align with NDPL standards, and meet cross-border data transfer requirements. Non-compliance with the NDPL exposes businesses to legal actions and potential fines of up to N10 million or two percent of annual revenue. Zoho’s solution, Zoho Contracts, aims to streamline compliance by enabling businesses to create NDPL-compliant contract templates, use analytics to flag relevant clauses, anonymize counterparty data as needed, and set alerts for contractual obligations.

The company also reported a robust 50 percent growth in Nigeria in 2022, attributed to an increasing adoption of cloud technology by Nigerian businesses. “Our growth is a direct result of Nigerian businesses embracing unified cloud platforms to drive digital transformation and resilience,” said Ali Shabdar, Regional Director for Zoho in the MEA region. Zoho’s partner network expanded by 22 percent, and its Nigerian workforce doubled, enhancing the company’s local presence and customer service.

Country Head of Zoho Nigeria, Kehinde Ogundare, added that Zoho’s “transnational localism” strategy has been key to its growth, with locally hired teams in Lagos serving Nigerian clients directly. Additionally, Zoho’s continued provision of services in Naira protects local businesses from fluctuating exchange rates, ensuring affordable access to enterprise technology.

The company’s collaboration with #StartupSouth and the special offer on Zoho Contracts underscore its dedication to supporting Nigeria’s business ecosystem and improving data protection compliance across the region.