The Nigeria Data Protection Commission, has called on organisations across the country to move beyond data protection awareness to full accountability, warning that trust in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy depends on strict compliance with privacy regulations.
Speaking at the 15th West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) in Lagos, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the national commissioner/CEO of the NDPC, said data controllers and processors must embrace accountability as a core business obligation under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), 2023, rather than treating compliance as a mere regulatory requirement.
During his Executive Regulatory Insight themed “From Awareness to Accountability: Strengthening Data Protection Compliance in Nigeria’s Digital Economy,” Olatunji stressed that trust remains the foundation of every successful digital ecosystem, making effective data governance critical to sustaining innovation, investment and economic growth.
He commended the organisers of WACC for consistently providing a platform for policymakers, regulators and industry leaders to deliberate on issues shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
Highlighting the Commission’s efforts to strengthen privacy awareness and compliance, Olatunji cited initiatives including the Digital Privacy Awareness Campaign (DPAC), the translation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act into Nigeria’s three major indigenous languages, and the issuance of the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID), which provides practical guidance for implementing the law.
The NDPC boss also disclosed that the Commission is shifting its regulatory focus from creating awareness to institutional accountability, insisting that every organisation handling personal data must demonstrate compliance through governance, risk management and responsible data processing practices.
According to him, accountability is now the defining principle of Nigeria’s data protection regime and applies equally to both data controllers and data processors.
He outlined the Commission’s next priorities as strengthening enforcement, deepening sector-specific compliance, expanding capacity-building initiatives and increasing awareness of both the benefits of compliance and the consequences of violating the NDP Act.
Olatunji also highlighted the growing economic significance of Nigeria’s privacy ecosystem, noting that a robust data protection framework is becoming a competitive advantage capable of attracting investment, boosting consumer confidence and supporting the country’s digital transformation agenda.
In recognition of its contributions to digital governance, the NDPC, under Olatunji’s leadership, received the Institutional Recognition Award as one of the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy at WACC 2026.
The award was presented by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
