BREAKING: Nigeria advances Global Data Privacy leadership with NDPC’s bold initiatives

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is on a mission to position the nation as a global leader in data privacy and protection.

At the National Privacy Day 2025 event held in Abuja during the National Privacy Week, experts, stakeholders, and government officials gathered under the theme, “Fostering Trust and Inclusion Through Data Privacy.”

The discussions underscored the vital role of data protection in enhancing Nigeria’s digital economy, building international credibility, and promoting sustainable inclusion.

Delivering the keynote address, National Commissioner/CEO of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strict enforcement of data protection laws.

He emphasised that leniency for non-compliance is over, stating, “The gloves are off. This year, we will be relentless in imposing penalties to make data privacy a mandate, not an option.”

Dr. Olatunji said that the NDPC’s robust awareness campaigns over the past 18 months, mirroring the European Union’s GDPR model, which provided a compliance grace period before enforcement.

He also detailed the Commission’s strides toward creating a trillion-dollar data-driven economy.

A key initiative unveiled during the event was the government-sponsored training and certification of 500 Data Protection Officers (DPOs), with plans to scale this to equip all 500,000 registered data controllers in the country. Already, program graduates are securing employment with Data Protection Compliance Organizations (DPCOs), signaling the initiative’s success.

The NDPC’s achievements include Nigeria’s rapid admission into the Global Privacy Assembly and its role in the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA), which it will host in May.

The Commission has also signed cross-border enforcement MoUs with global data regulators, including Canada and Dubai, ensuring Nigerian laws are upheld internationally.

Domestically, collaboration with regulators and the private sector is strengthening compliance frameworks, aiming to foster trust, inclusion, and adherence to global data standards.

President of the Association of Licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations of Nigeria (ALDAPCON), Ivan Anya praised the NDPC’s progress, calling it unprecedented in economic and compliance impacts.

The National Privacy Day celebrated the milestones achieved while calling for sustained momentum to position Nigeria as a leader in the global data revolution.