The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, was ably represented by the Head of Research and Development at the Commission, Dr Tolulope Pius-Fadipe, at the 2025 Digital Health Interoperability Network Connectathon, hosted by the Digital Health Interoperability Network and held at the AfDB Hall, African University of Science and Technology in Abuja.

Delivering a keynote address on the topic, “Guardians of Health Data: Privacy and Data Protection in a Digital Age,” Dr Pius-Fadipe outlined various principles in the deployment of emerging technologies in the health sector and appropriate data governance frameworks in implementing these principles. She noted Nigeria’s feat as a key figure in leading data governance in Africa, citing the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 as a key framework in ensuring data governance.

She also outlined key priorities for securing data in Nigeria, including the use of privacy-preserving technologies. She stated that, “In a digital age, true progress is measured not by how much data we gather, but by how responsibly we protect it. Let us remain vigilant, ethical, and courageous guardians of health data”.

The NDPC also coordinated a workshop on Privacy by Design (PbD) Principles: NDPC Law’s Mandated Approach to Design, facilitated by Ms Fatima Sanni. The workshop emphasised that PbD is a mandatory requirement in Nigeria’s data protection law. PbD embeds privacy into the design of systems and processes from the start, ensuring end-to-end security and protecting individuals’ right to privacy. By adopting PbD principles, organisations, especially in healthcare, can protect sensitive information and build trust with patients.