Nigeria Commissions New NDPC Headquarters to Strengthen Data Protection

Nigeria has commissioned the new headquarters of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) , marking another milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen data protection and privacy as its digital economy expands.

The new 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.

During the ceremony, Tijani highlighted the role of the NDPC in supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation and commended Olatunji for his leadership of the Commission. He also recognised the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the country’s data protection ecosystem, including the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the directive requiring government ministries, departments and agencies to comply with data protection regulations, and the allocation of the property for the Commission’s new headquarters.

Tijani also urged the NDPC and its staff to continue strengthening awareness and compliance so that data protection and privacy become greater priorities across Nigeria.

In his remarks, Olatunji outlined the Commission’s growth since it began as a 12-member unit within the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He said the NDPC has evolved into a leading data protection authority, with 356 licensed data protection-compliant organisations and more than 27,000 jobs created.

The Commission has also reached more than 66,000 Nigerians through its Virtual Privacy Academy and conducted 228 training programmes that have benefited more than 99,000 people.

Olatunji described the new facility as the largest Data Protection Authority office in Africa, reflecting the Commission’s expanding role in Nigeria’s digital economy and data governance landscape.

The commissioning brought together stakeholders from Nigeria’s data protection and digital economy sectors to mark the development and the broader progress of the country’s data protection framework.