The National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, received in audience the President and CEO of Africa Digital Infrastructure Company Limited (AfDIC), Mr Terwase Gbande-Hembaor, and his team at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. AfDIC serves as the investment arm of Benue Digital Infrastructure Company Limited (BDIC).
Mr Gbande-Hembaor commended the Commission, under Dr Olatunji’s leadership, for its continued support to BDIC, particularly in the training of 40,000 staff of the Benue State Government. He provided an overview of AfDIC’s upcoming projects, which include the development of a Unified Identity System for Africa and a national digital platform expected to host over 30 million artisans—aimed at enabling citizens to easily access essential services.
He further noted that the NDPC was their first point of contact, given the scale of data processing involved in their initiatives. He added that the Commission’s insights and regulatory guidance would be invaluable as AfDIC expands its operations to other African countries.
Dr Olatunji congratulated Mr Gbande-Hembaor and his team on the project and commended their efforts aimed at assisting citizens by addressing everyday challenges. He emphasised that privacy is central to the project and advised them to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) and engage a licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisation (DPCO) to provide continuous guidance. He also underscored the importance of training and awareness for their staff. Dr Olatunji noted that prioritising data protection and privacy will build trust and confidence among the countries and stakeholders they engage with.
Dr Olatunji further urged AfDIC to prioritise the verification and authentication of artisans to be onboarded on their platform, noting that the quality of service provided by the artisans would enhance AfDIC’s credibility. He encouraged them to collaborate with relevant government agencies to achieve their objectives and assured them of the Commission’s full support, particularly in the areas of data protection and privacy.
