The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has called for stronger strategic partnerships among data protection authorities and stakeholders to advance data privacy and protection across Africa.
Dr Olatunji made the call while delivering the welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 8th Edition of the Data Protection Africa Summit (DPAS) 2026, holding in Lagos, Nigeria.
Welcoming delegates from across Africa and Nigeria, Dr Olatunji stressed that public awareness remains critical to deepening data privacy and protection, noting that achieving this requires sustained collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
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He advocated the adoption of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) across Africa and beyond, describing strategic collaboration as essential to building a stronger data protection ecosystem.
Highlighting the achievements of the NDPC, the National Commissioner said that the Commission’s PPP model had facilitated the creation of over 27,000 jobs and increased the number of certified Data Protection Officers (DPOs) from fewer than 1,000 to more than 10,000.
Embrace Compliance
He further urged data controllers and processors to embrace compliance and service delivery as institutional cultures and integral parts of their operations.
Dr Olatunji, however, warned that partnerships would not shield organisations from regulatory consequences, stressing that individuals and organisations that violate data protection laws would continue to face sanctions, regardless of their involvement in collaborative initiatives.
He also commended the Executive Director of Africa Data Rights Hub (ADRH), Ms Teki Akuetteh, for partnering with the NDPC to co-host the summit.
Describing the gathering as an important platform for knowledge-sharing and learning, he urged delegates and stakeholders to collaborate, amplify their voices and contribute meaningfully to the development of data protection across the continent.
He challenged participants to ensure that the summit produces concrete decisions and actionable outcomes capable of delivering lasting impact on Africa’s data protection ecosystem.
