By: Van
Soul Addey
National Commissioner of the
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent O. Olatunji, has called
for data protection, privacy, cybersecurity and accountability to be embedded
at every stage of artificial intelligence (AI) development and deployment.
Olatunji made the call while
delivering the first keynote address at the International Cybersecurity
Conference 2026 (ICSC ’26), organised by the National Information Technology
Development Agency (NITDA) under the leadership of its Director-General, Mr Kashifu
Inuwa.
In his keynote, titled
“Trust by Design: Data Protection & Privacy in the Age of Artificial
Intelligence (AI)”, Olatunji described AI as a transformational force shaping
the future of economies, societies and human lives, while warning against risks
including an expanded attack surface, privacy violations and the misuse of
personal data.
He emphasised that
cybersecurity and data protection are non-negotiable pillars in an AI-driven
economy and in the delivery of digital public services, adding that they are
fundamental to building trust among users, citizens, investors and partners.
“To harness AI responsibly,
we must embed trust at every stage of its development and deployment, through
privacy, security, safety and accountability,” he said.
Olatunji also highlighted
that building a culture of trust in AI and the wider digital ecosystem is a
shared responsibility involving regulators, developers, organisations, citizens
and academia.
He called for collaboration,
responsible innovation, accountability and unwavering respect for data
protection principles and data subjects’ rights to ensure that AI development
and deployment remain responsible.
The conference brought
together stakeholders from Nigeria and other countries, including the Chairman
of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi
Salisu; the Chairman of the House Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Hon. Adedeji
Stanley Olajide; and Senator Momo T. Cyrus, representing Lofa County and Chair
of the Defence, Intelligence and Security Committee of the Republic of Liberia.
Ambassadors and other
stakeholders from Nigeria and across the globe also attended the conference.
Olatunji commended NITDA for
organising the conference, describing it as timely and important, and called
for an AI future anchored on trust driven by data protection and privacy.
