The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) was represented by Mr Abubakar Mahmud of the IT and Cybersecurity Unit and Mr Salim Ibrahim of the Innovation and Emerging Technologies Unit at the GSMA Ministerial Programme and Mobile Policy Week, held in Kigali, Rwanda.

During the GSMA capacity-building sessions on Mobile Privacy, Security, and AI Governance, NDPC delegates gained valuable insights into global best practices. Key learning areas included privacy-by-design principles, mobile network data security, and responsible artificial intelligence governance. These insights enhance the Commission’s ability to support compliance in emerging digital environments, particularly within Nigeria’s expanding mobile and AI-driven sectors.

A major highlight was the engagement with the Data Protection Office Rwanda (DPOR), where opportunities for regional cooperation and knowledge exchange were discussed. The collaboration aims to promote harmonised data protection standards, encourage innovation, and build digital trust across Africa.

The NDPC also represented Nigeria at the Mobile World Congress, actively shaping discussions on Africa’s digital future. The delegates from NDPC were at the core of the continental agenda through key interventions during high-level sessions on 5G Deployment & AI Integration, Internet Infrastructure, and Regulatory Modernization.

The engagements in Kigali reinforced NDPC’s proactive role in shaping Africa’s data protection and privacy landscape.