Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to striking a delicate balance between robust data privacy safeguards and Nigeria’s booming digital innovation ecosystem.
NDPC
National Commissioner Dr. Vincent Olatunji declared this stance at the commission’s National Data Privacy Summit themed “Privacy in the Era of Emerging Technologies,” stressing NDPC’s bold risk-taking to fuel growth without compromising citizen protections.
“What we are doing is just to look at how to balance information around privacy and protection, which is really important, because as we are innovating, at the same time, we have to consider issues around privacy and protection,” Olatunji emphasised.
He added: “Our starting point is growing at a very alarming rate, and we are not afraid of anything. We can take risks. And that is why a lot is happening in Nigeria, and this is the level of clarity.”
NCC Executive Vice Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida, represented by Executive Commissioner Technical Services Abraham Oshadami, spotlighted Internet of Things (IoT) as Nigeria’s economic game-changer while flagging privacy pitfalls.
“Emerging technologies hold immense promise for Nigeria’s grand economy, but they also introduce complex risks to personal and individual rights,” Oshadami noted. “Balancing innovation through post-ethical safeguards and public trust is the first step to ensuring that global digital advancement benefits all Nigerians.”
Plateau State Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Bako Shurkuk, standing in for Governor Caleb Mutfwang, echoed the growth potential: emerging technologies can be harnessed to attain sustainable development across Nigeria’s diverse landscapes.
The summit underscored Nigeria’s high-stakes digital tightrope—unleashing IoT, AI, and data revolutions while fortifying privacy as the foundation for sustainable tech adoption nationwide.
