The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, was represented by the Head of Strategy, Partnerships and Communications at the Commission, Mrs Abiola Jide-Abe, at the 2026 Stakeholders Forum on Cybersecurity in Abuja.

In her remarks, Mrs Jide-Abe stated that the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act), is the foundation for the Commission’s enforcement strategies. Under this mandate, the Commission is deploying proactive frameworks, designing long-term roadmaps, and enforcing compliance to safeguard citizens’ personal data. She emphasised the importance of data protection and privacy in attracting foreign direct investment to Nigeria, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Mrs Jide-Abe noted that the Commission has made significant progress, including licensing Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs) to decentralise compliance monitoring and support local enterprises. She also highlighted the technical drills conducted by the NDPC for IT administrators across government ministries, departments, and agencies to enhance cybersecurity readiness.

Representing the NDPC on a panel session titled, “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for National Cyber Resilience”, Mrs Jide-Abe emphasised responsible AI governance as key to balancing innovation with data protection and public trust, calling for strengthened collaboration and capacity building.

In conclusion, she stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration and public-private partnerships in driving nationwide compliance and digital innovation, with the aim of building a secure digital environment that attracts investment and stimulates economic growth.