Nigeria has assumed a pivotal role in Africa’s data protection landscape as Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has been appointed as the Chair of the Anglophone Countries Committee of the Network of Africa Data Protection Authorities (NADPA). The appointment was confirmed during the Committee’s meeting on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
The Anglophone Countries Committee serves as a key multilateral platform for promoting data privacy and protection among English-speaking African nations. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Olatunji expressed his appreciation for the confidence placed in Nigeria’s leadership, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in safeguarding the privacy rights of Africa’s 1.4 billion citizens within the global data processing ecosystem.
“This is a crucial phase in Africa’s journey toward data privacy and protection. We must see this task as a shared responsibility to ensure the rights of data subjects across the continent are upheld,” Dr. Olatunji stated.
Nigeria’s leadership in data protection is further solidified as the country prepares to host the 2025 NADPA Annual General Meeting and Conference from May 6 to May 8, 2025. Themed “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,” the conference aims to highlight Nigeria’s progress under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in fostering a sustainable digital economy.
The upcoming event is expected to bring together key stakeholders in the data protection sector, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss strategies for balancing technological advancements with privacy safeguards across the continent.