The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, delivered the keynote address at a webinar on data protection and privacy organized by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS).
In his presentation, titled “The State of Data Protection and Privacy in Nigeria,” Dr. Olatunji provided an insightful overview of the evolution of data protection and privacy regulations in the country. He traced the journey leading to the establishment of the NDPC, which came into existence following the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) by President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023.
During the session, Dr. Olatunji elaborated on key terminologies within the data protection and privacy ecosystem. He also broke down the fundamental provisions of the NDP Act, detailing the core principles of data processing and the rights of data subjects under the legislation.
A key highlight of his address was the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model adopted by the Commission. He noted that the initiative has garnered significant interest from other Data Protection Authorities seeking to replicate its success. Dr. Olatunji further outlined the obligations of data controllers and processors, including mandatory registration with the NDPC, adherence to data processing guidelines, and the appointment of a Data Protection Officer (DPO). He also underscored the consequences of non-compliance with the NDP Act.
Concluding his presentation, Dr. Olatunji urged NCS and its corporate members to ensure full compliance with the NDP Act. He called for increased collaboration between the Commission and industry stakeholders to strengthen data protection and privacy frameworks in Nigeria.
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