The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, led staff of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, at the NOA Headquarters in Abuja.

In his remarks, Dr Olatunji commended Mallam Issa-Onilu for the giant strides the NOA has recorded since his appointment. He explained that the NDPC team was at the NOA to seek areas of collaboration aimed at further creating awareness on the mandate of the Commission. Highlighting the many advantages of data privacy to Nigeria, including the attraction of Foreign Direct Investments as envisioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), as well as the risks of non-compliance, he noted that the NDPC is keen to leverage the extensive reach of the NOA in raising awareness about the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) in communities across the country.

In his response, Mallam Issa-Onilu commended Dr Olatunji for the clarity with which he articulated the NDPC’s mandate, noting that he was enlightened by his presentation. He emphasised that creating awareness on government policies, such as the provisions of the NDP Act, falls within the NOA’s mandate. He added that education and sensitisation on data protection and privacy would be delivered to Nigerians through the Agency’s platforms, which include partnerships with 255 radio stations broadcasting in 72 Nigerian languages, television stations, print media, social media, as well as direct engagement by NOA staff across its 818 offices nationwide.

On behalf of the NDPC, Dr Olatunji offered training on data protection and privacy for NOA staff: an offer that was warmly welcomed by Mallam Issa-Onilu. Both organisations agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their partnership and entrench a culture of data privacy in Nigeria.