As part of efforts to deepen citizens’ understanding of data protection and privacy rights across Nigeria, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has unveiled the Hausa translation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act) in Kano State.
The event marked a major milestone in the Commission’s ongoing initiative to translate the NDP Act into Nigeria’s three major languages — Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba — to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all Nigerians, regardless of literacy or language barriers.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, commended Meta Inc. for partnering with the Commission on the translation project, and expressed appreciation to the Kano State Government for its strong support and collaboration.
In his remarks, Dr. Olatunji emphasized that the translation project represents a crucial step in making data protection and privacy information available to all citizens. He described the initiative as a vital public education effort that would empower Nigerians to understand and exercise their rights under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
“Every Nigerian has the right to know how their personal data is collected, used, and protected,” Dr. Olatunji said. “By translating this law into local languages, we are ensuring that these rights are not confined to a privileged few but extended to everyone — in every community, in every language.”
Dr. Olatunji further highlighted the alignment of the initiative with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the President’s swift signing of the NDP Act in 2023 as a testament to his administration’s commitment to protecting digital rights and fostering a trusted digital economy.
He called for the Hausa version of the Act to be widely circulated across Northern Nigeria, urging community leaders, educational institutions, and civil society groups to ensure that citizens can access, read, and understand the provisions of the law — as well as the opportunities emerging from the growing data protection and privacy ecosystem.
The event attracted several dignitaries and stakeholders, including His Highness, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, represented by the Dan Malikin Kano, Comrade Auwal Mudi Yakasai; the Secretary to the State Government, represented by Hajiya Aisha Kailani, Permanent Secretary of the Special Duties Cabinet Office; and the Head of Civil Service, Hajiya Ladidi Garko.
Also in attendance were representatives from Kano State’s digital ecosystem, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Corps members, women’s associations, and youth groups, all of whom pledged support for the Commission’s mission to build a data protection culture across Nigeria.
The translation initiative is part of the NDPC’s broader mandate to promote digital literacy, strengthen citizens’ trust in technology, and ensure that data privacy becomes a fundamental part of Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.
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