By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Nigeria Data Protection
Commission (NDPC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency
(NITDA) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration as
Nigeria advances its data protection framework and digital economy.
National Commissioner of the
Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent O. Olatunji, received the
Director-General of NITDA, Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, on a courtesy visit to
the NDPC’s new headquarters.
The meeting provided an
opportunity for the two officials to reflect on the evolution of data
protection in Nigeria, from the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) to
the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 by President
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Dr. Olatunji said he
appreciated Mr Inuwa for his support during the NDPC’s transition from a unit
within NITDA to becoming a full-fledged independent Commission.
He also shared some of the
Commission’s achievements since its establishment and its growing impact on the
data protection ecosystem, the digital economy and national development.
Mr Inuwa expressed delight
at the progress recorded by the Commission and commended the growth of
Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem.
He reaffirmed NITDA’s
commitment to strengthening collaboration with the NDPC, noting that
cooperation among government agencies in advancing their respective mandates
will contribute significantly to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The engagement ended with a
commitment to deepen the partnership between the two institutions in support of
a trusted and thriving digital Nigeria.
The NDPC was established as
an independent Data Protection Authority under the Nigeria Data Protection Act
2023, which came into force following presidential assent in June 2023.
