The National Commissioner/ CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, received a delegation from Google, led by Mr Charles Murito, Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Government Affairs and Public Policy.

The aim of the meeting was to deepen potential areas of partnership between Google and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission, with discussions focused on how technology can support the Commission’s mandate, strengthen teacher–student collaborations, drive awareness, and promote the integration of privacy and security principles. The engagement also examined how local languages can be effectively represented and supported in emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

In his opening remarks, Dr Olatunji commended Google for its contributions to Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and reaffirmed the Nigerian Data Protection Commission’s commitment to co-creating initiatives with partners to strengthen the data protection ecosystem, particularly given Nigeria’s growing internet population. He emphasized the need for organisations operating in Nigeria to prioritise Nigerians through sustained awareness and robust stakeholder protection measures, while also highlighting the Commission’s Strategic Roadmap.

Dr Olatunji underscored the centrality of data subject rights and noted that embedding privacy considerations into emerging technologies, particularly AI, is paramount.

In their response, Google representatives reaffirmed the company’s commitment to privacy, describing themselves as ambassadors of data protection. The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to deepen collaboration with the Commission and expand data protection awareness initiatives across Nigeria.