African regulators meet in Abuja to strengthen data governance and privacy frameworks
Date: 2026-05-07
By: Robert Kwaku Annor
Data
protection authorities, regulators, and regional institutions from across
Africa have convened in Abuja, Nigeria, for the Data Protection Cross-Regional
Peer Exchange Study Tour aimed at strengthening collaboration and institutional
capacity in data governance and privacy implementation.
The
two-day engagement was organised by Smart Africa through the Smart Africa
Digital Academy (SADA), in collaboration with the World Bank Group under the
Digital Transformation for Africa and Western Africa Regional Digital
Integration Program (DTfA/WARDIP SOP1).
Hosted
by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), the study tour brought
together delegates to exchange practical experiences and examine operational
approaches to building trusted digital governance systems across the continent.
Discussions
focused on Nigeria’s experience in establishing and operationalising a modern
data protection authority, including institutional development, regulatory
models, compliance ecosystems, cybersecurity safeguards, complaints management
systems, and cross-border cooperation mechanisms.
Participants
also explored strategies for enhancing peer collaboration among African
regulators as countries continue to strengthen legal and operational frameworks
for data protection and privacy.
Organisers
said the initiative forms part of broader continental efforts to support
Africa’s Single Digital Market agenda by promoting trusted digital ecosystems
and responsible data governance practices.
Stakeholders
at the event emphasized that effective data governance and institutional
capacity are essential to supporting Africa’s digital transformation ambitions,
strengthening cybersecurity resilience, and enabling secure cross-border
digital trade and services across the continent.
