The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, served as a Guest Speaker at the National Executive Committee Meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), held in Lagos. The forum was declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), who was represented by the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
Dr Olatunji expressed his delight at the opportunity to engage with traditional rulers at the forum, noting that data protection and privacy awareness in rural communities must begin with the traditional rulers.
In his presentation titled, “Data Protection and Privacy: Overview of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDPA),” Dr Olatunji guided the traditional rulers through the basics of data protection and privacy. He highlighted the rights of data subjects and emphasised the corresponding obligations of data controllers and processors.
He also outlined the Commission’s ongoing initiatives to ensure Nigerians are well-informed, including the translation of the NDP Act into local languages. Dr Olatunji further highlighted the opportunities within the data protection ecosystem, particularly for Nigerian youths. He underscored the pivotal role of traditional rulers in grassroots sensitisation, capacity building, local enforcement, advocacy, and effective dissemination of the NDP Act across communities.
The event was attended by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and several other Governors, including Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti State), Monday Okpebholo (Edo State), Senator Bassey Otu (Cross River State), Dr Dikko Umar Radda (Katsina State), Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara State), Alhaji Usman Ododo (Kogi State), Dr Nasir Idris (Kebbi State), Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto State), and Hon. Mai Mala Buni (Yobe State).
The forum also had in attendance prominent traditional rulers from across Nigeria, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Chairman of the NCTRN, and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Co-Chairman of the Council.
