The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, recently led a delegation on a strategic working visit to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. The meeting focused on enhancing data protection compliance in the health sector under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.
During the engagement, Dr. Olatunji highlighted the critical role of data privacy in healthcare, warning that breaches could lead to severe consequences, including reputational damage, medical errors, and even loss of life. He urged health sector stakeholders to adopt robust measures to safeguard sensitive patient data and sought the minister’s support in ensuring full compliance with the NDPA.
In response, Prof. Pate commended the NDPC’s efforts and pledged the ministry’s commitment to collaborating with the Commission. He assured that all 107 agencies under his supervision would adhere to the Data Protection Act and emphasized the need to extend awareness to state-level health authorities through the National Council on Health.
As part of the partnership, the NDPC proposed free training programs for health workers on data privacy best practices—an offer warmly accepted by the minister. Additionally, the Commission has been invited to address the Committee of Chief Medical Directors to further emphasize the importance of data protection in healthcare delivery.
The meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening data security in Nigeria’s health sector, aligning with global privacy standards.
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