Nigeria has commissioned the new headquarters of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), marking a significant development in the country’s efforts to strengthen data protection and privacy as its digital economy continues to expand.
The facility was commissioned by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, and hosted by NDPC National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tijani highlighted the NDPC’s growing role in Nigeria’s digital transformation and commended Olatunji for his leadership of the Commission. He also recognised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for the country’s data protection ecosystem, including the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Tijani pointed to government measures requiring ministries, departments and agencies to comply with data protection regulations, as well as the allocation of the property for the Commission’s new headquarters.
He urged the NDPC and its employees to continue strengthening public awareness and compliance, with the aim of making data protection and privacy greater priorities across Nigeria.
Olatunji outlined the Commission’s development since it began as a 12-member unit within the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). According to the National Commissioner, the NDPC has since grown into a leading data protection authority with 356 licensed data protection-compliant organisations and more than 27,000 jobs created.
The Commission has also expanded its capacity-building efforts through the Virtual Privacy Academy, which has reached more than 66,000 Nigerians. In addition, 228 training programmes have benefited more than 99,000 people.
Olatunji described the new headquarters as the largest Data Protection Authority office in Africa, reflecting the expanding responsibilities of the Commission within Nigeria’s digital economy and data governance landscape.
The commissioning brought together stakeholders from the data protection and digital economy sectors, highlighting Nigeria’s continued efforts to strengthen privacy standards, regulatory compliance and responsible management of personal data.
As digital services continue to expand across Nigeria, stronger data governance is becoming increasingly important for protecting citizens, supporting trust in digital platforms and creating a more secure digital economy.
