The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) says the country’s data protection industry has grown into a N16.3 billion ecosystem within three years of formal regulation, reflecting increasing confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Head of Finance Management and Control at the commission, Mr Olufemi Ibitayo, disclosed this at the Regional Data Governance Exchange in Nairobi, Kenya, where he represented the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji.
The Regional Data Governance Exchange, organised by the Data Governance in Africa Initiative and hosted by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Nairobi, brought together African data protection authorities to strengthen institutional capacity, deepen collaboration and promote peer learning on data governance.
Ibitayo said Nigeria’s robust regulatory framework and the establishment of an independent data protection authority had strengthened investor confidence and enhanced the country’s reputation as an attractive destination for foreign investment.
He said the commission’s regulatory strategy, anchored on the principle of “Compliance First, Not Punishment,” encourages organisations to comply with data protection obligations through dialogue and voluntary adherence while ensuring effective oversight.
According to him, the NDPC is also developing regulatory technology solutions, a regulatory sandbox and a data privacy innovation laboratory to strengthen the country’s data governance ecosystem and support future growth.
Meanwhile, Olatunji reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global data governance during a meeting with Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) session.
The UNCITRAL meeting has brought together delegates from Nigeria, Australia, China, Ghana, France, the United States and other member states to develop harmonised legal frameworks for secure, trusted and efficient cross-border digital commerce.
Olatunji highlighted the commission’s achievements since its establishment, noting that strategic institutional reforms had positioned Nigeria as a leading voice in the global data protection ecosystem.
He said Nigeria’s data protection framework had continued to gain international recognition and remained central to promoting trusted data governance, digital transformation, innovation, economic growth and sustainable development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his remarks, Ambassador Ibrahim commended the commission’s progress since the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
He also called for the establishment of a comprehensive national data bank to support evidence-based policymaking, research and national development.
