The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has called for stronger regulatory alignment, data sovereignty and trust as critical foundations for Africa’s digital transformation.
Dr Olatunji made the call while delivering the keynote address at an event organised by Vivacity Development on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81).
The event, themed “Securing the Digital Frontier: Regulatory Alignment, Data Sovereignty, and Trust as Catalysts for Future Readiness”, brought together stakeholders and dignitaries to examine the opportunities and challenges shaping Africa’s digital economy.
In his address, Dr Olatunji described Africa as a continent with significant potential to thrive in the digital century but noted that critical gaps must be addressed to fully realise that potential.
He identified regulatory alignment, data sovereignty and trust as three fundamental pillars necessary for securing Africa’s digital frontier and creating an environment capable of supporting sustainable digital development.
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The NDPC chief emphasised the importance of establishing compatible regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions, particularly as African countries increasingly rely on data to drive economic growth, innovation and public-sector development.
He explained that regulatory compatibility would help facilitate responsible data use while ensuring that the rights and privacy of individuals remain protected.
Dr Olatunji also highlighted data protection and privacy as forms of economic infrastructure, stressing that effective data governance is not merely a regulatory requirement but an important component of a functional and competitive digital economy.
According to him, building confidence in how personal and institutional data are collected, processed, stored and transferred is essential to encouraging innovation and strengthening participation in the digital economy.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s progress in its data protection journey, pointing to the country’s growing digital ecosystem and the opportunities it presents for innovation, investment and economic development.
Dr Olatunji noted that Nigeria’s experience demonstrates the importance of developing appropriate institutional and regulatory structures to support digital transformation while safeguarding citizens’ data and privacy.
He also used the occasion to reaffirm Nigeria’s openness to international collaboration, encouraging other countries to place greater priority on data protection and privacy as they develop their digital economies.
