The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, participated in a fireside chat hosted by the United States Department of State, the United States Department of Commerce, and the Future of Privacy Forum at the ongoing Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
During the session, Dr Olatunji outlined Africa’s significant progress in data governance, noting that over 40 African countries have enacted data protection laws, with more than 30 establishing independent regulatory authorities. He observed that public awareness is also rising, with citizens increasingly understanding and asserting their data rights, and holding data controllers and processors accountable.
Dr Olatunji emphasised that realising the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) requires harmonised, practical and interoperable data governance frameworks to ensure secure cross-border data flows and build trust in Africa’s digital ecosystem. He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership in this effort through its role in the NADPA-RAPDP Working Group on Harmonisation.
Also at the event, the Head of Legal Enforcement and Regulations at the NDPC, Babatunde Bamigboye, made a presentation on Nigeria’s participation in the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) Forum. He highlighted the importance of international co-operation in data protection and reiterated that safeguarding data subjects’ rights beyond national borders is essential to building trust and attracting investment.
