By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Nigeria’s Data Protection
Commission (NDPC) has hosted a delegation from Sri Lanka’s Data Protection
Authority for a two-day study tour focused on institutional development,
regulatory operations and emerging priorities in data protection.
The visit marks Sri Lanka as
the eighteenth country to visit the Commission for knowledge exchange,
reflecting growing international interest in Nigeria’s data protection
framework and its regulatory experience.
The National Commissioner of
the NDPC, Dr. Vincent O. Olatunji, said the engagement provided an opportunity
to share the evolution of Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem, culminating in
the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, by President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu.
During his engagement with
the delegation, Olatunji outlined the Commission’s strategic roadmap, its key
pillars and the public-private partnership model that supports its regulatory
operations.
He said Nigeria’s experience
demonstrates the importance of building an effective data protection ecosystem
that benefits individuals, strengthens the compliance of organisations and
contributes to economic growth.
Through strategic
partnerships with other Data Protection Authorities, development partners and
stakeholders, the Commission continues to advance privacy rights and promote
responsible data processing, he said.
Olatunji welcomed the
commitment of the Director-General of Sri Lanka’s Data Protection Authority,
Dimuth Bhashitha Atapattu, to applying the knowledge gained during the study
tour to strengthen Sri Lanka’s data protection ecosystem and deepen collaboration
with Nigeria.
He also appreciated the
World Bank for its continued support to the Commission and for facilitating the
knowledge exchange. He specifically acknowledged Ida S. Mboob, Senior Digital
Development Specialist at the World Bank Group, for recognising the progress
made by the NDPC and supporting the development of Nigeria’s data protection
landscape.
The study tour was themed
“Institutional Development, Regulatory Operations and Emerging Priorities in
Data Protection.”
Olatunji said collaboration
and knowledge exchange were increasingly important as countries navigated
emerging regulatory priorities and the challenges of an increasingly
data-driven world.
He reaffirmed the
Commission’s commitment to sharing experiences, strengthening international
partnerships and supporting the development of effective data protection
institutions globally.
“Data protection is a global
priority, and international cooperation remains essential to building strong
regulatory institutions, sharing knowledge and advancing the protection of
privacy across borders,” he said.
“Championing privacy rights
is a shared responsibility. By learning from one another and working together,
we can build stronger institutions, protect individuals and foster greater
trust in the digital economy.”
