The National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, received representatives from two European companies—Consulting & Management (C&M) and Europe Ltd.—during an official visit. The purpose of the visit was to discuss potential collaborations and share insights on the EU Support to the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy for Studies in Support of the 90,000km Fibre Optic Network and Improved Digital Literacy in Nigeria.
During the meeting, the team lead, Dr IUR Albert Ekango, expressed gratitude to Dr Olatunji for accepting their invitation and for the Commission’s support on the project. He emphasised the importance of engaging with the Commission to ensure compliance throughout the study. Dr Ekango explained that the study comprises two phases. The first phase focuses on the 90,000 km fibre optic infrastructure, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s digital economy while the second phase addresses digital literacy, highlighting the collection of citizens’ personal data during the study, which underscores the need for strict compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
In response, Dr Olatunji commended the team for their visit and reiterated the critical role of compliance in data protection. He emphasised the need to prevent data breaches, build trust and confidence, and enhance global competitiveness. Dr Olatunji also outlined the Commission’s strategic roadmap, including collaborations with stakeholders and other Data Protection Authorities. He further highlighted the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model adopted by the Commission, which has significantly enhanced compliance efforts.
Dr Olatunji addressed key questions raised by the team concerning capacity-building initiatives for citizens, digital literacy, regulatory investigations, Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), enforcement mechanisms, and steps to develop Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
He concluded by affirming NDPC’s openness to partnerships and willingness to collaborate to ensure the success of the EU’s initiatives.
