The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has inaugurated the Privacy Fellowship Programme, a six-month residency programme designed for privacy professionals, in partnership with the Data and Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI).

In his remarks, Dr Olatunji commended DKIPPI, under the leadership of its President, Mr Tokunbo Smith, for its dedication to the advancement of data protection and privacy. He noted that the Fellowship is the first of its kind by a Data Protection Authority globally, charging the Fellows to prove their worth and contribute their quota to the advancement of the data protection and privacy ecosystem.

Dr Olatunji reiterated NDPC’s commitment to building a pool of globally competitive human capital, particularly in the area of data protection and privacy, as well as youth development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He urged the Fellows to maximise the opportunity presented to them, as there are many opportunities in the ecosystem, including the global need for Data Protection Officers (DPOs).

In his response, Mr Smith commended the NDPC, under the leadership of Dr Olatunji, for its proactive approach to data governance. He congratulated the Fellows and urged them to take advantage of the Privacy Fellowship Programme to advance themselves. He noted that the Fellows were expected to familiarise themselves with data protection principles, data governance and regulatory frameworks, among others.

To support the Privacy Fellowship Programme aimed at capacity expansion and ecosystem maturity, Dr Olatunji, on behalf of the NDPC, offered free Virtual Privacy Academy (VPA) vouchers, as well as training and certification as Data Protection Officers, to all Fellows.