The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, received a team from the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UKFCDO), led by its Head of Green Growth and Private Sector, Dr Paul Healey, on a working visit to the Commission.

Dr Healey, who recently resumed duties in Nigeria, said he was at the Commission to familiarise himself with its operations, discuss ongoing projects, as well as explore possible areas of further partnership with the Commission. He stated that the UKFCDO is committed to supporting investments in Nigeria and the UK, and understands the importance of data protection and privacy, especially in the area of cross-border transfer of data.

In his response, Dr Olatunji commended the UKFCDO for its support to the Commission. He meticulously walked his guests through the evolution of data protection and privacy in Nigeria, culminating in the establishment of the NDPC through the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) in June 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Dr Olatunji highlighted some of the challenges faced by the Commission, but also noted that the Commission has made considerable progress and is now regarded as one of the most progressive Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) globally. He spoke on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model adopted by the Commission, which has helped to foster compliance, thereby preparing Nigerian businesses for the global market.

Other areas of collaboration were also explored.