The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has called for data protection, privacy, security and accountability to be integrated into the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Commission’s National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, made the call while delivering the first keynote address at the International Cybersecurity Conference 2026, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
In his address, titled “Trust by Design: Data Protection & Privacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” Olatunji commended NITDA, under the leadership of its Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, for organising the conference.
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He described AI as a transformational force shaping economies, societies and human lives, while highlighting associated risks, including an expanded cybersecurity attack surface, privacy violations and the misuse of personal data.
The NDPC chief stressed that cybersecurity and data protection were critical to the growth of an AI-driven economy and the effective delivery of digital public services.
He explained that these safeguards were essential to building trust among users, citizens, investors and development partners.
Olatunji emphasised the need to embed trust at every stage of the AI lifecycle, from development to deployment, through robust privacy protections, security measures, safety standards and accountability mechanisms.
He also highlighted the shared responsibility of regulators, technology developers, organisations, citizens and academia in fostering trust in AI development and the wider digital ecosystem.
The NDPC chief called for stronger collaboration, responsible innovation and accountability, urging stakeholders to uphold data protection principles and respect the rights of data subjects.
He noted that building a trustworthy digital ecosystem required a collective commitment to ensuring that technological advancement was accompanied by appropriate safeguards for personal data and individual privacy.
