By Anthony Emeka Nwosu

The fourth plenary session of the 2025 Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) Conference and Annual General Meeting took centre stage with an engaging discourse on the theme, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa: Privacy Paradox.” The session, which drew leading minds in AI policy and data protection, was chaired by Tahir Latif, Vice President and Data Privacy and AI Governance Officer at the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority.

In a keynote address delivered on behalf of Dr ’Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bunmi Ajala—Senior Special Adviser on AI, Data & Research—highlighted the urgent need for African nations to strike a delicate balance between technological advancement and the protection of citizens’ privacy rights.

The session unpacked the growing tension between rapid AI adoption across the continent and the imperative to enforce data privacy regulations. Discussions revolved around practical strategies to ensure that innovation in AI does not trample on human rights, with emphasis on the pivotal role African regulators must play in shaping the ethical framework of AI development.

A distinguished panel lent diverse perspectives to the conversation. Speakers included Dr Ololade Shyllon, Director of Privacy Policy for Africa, Middle East and Turkey at Meta; Dr Thuweba Diwani, Head of Project at GIZ/Digital Transformation Center Nigeria; Teki Akuetteh, Senior Partner at Nsiah Akuetteh & Co and Executive Director of the Africa Digital Rights Hub; and Adewole Adene, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google.

The session served as a clarion call for stronger, harmonised regulatory frameworks to guide AI deployment on the continent, while championing individual privacy rights.

#ChampioningPrivacyRights #NADPA2025 #PrivacyInAction #BalancingInnovation