Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has been nominated for the prestigious Giovanni Buttarelli Award 2024 by the Global Privacy Assembly. This award honors individuals for their exceptional leadership and efforts in fostering international collaboration in data privacy and protection.
Dr. Olatunji’s nomination underscores his commitment to driving innovation, expanding global partnerships, and promoting a collaborative approach within the data privacy ecosystem. Under his visionary leadership, Nigeria’s data privacy landscape has achieved remarkable milestones. These include enhancing the knowledge of data protection in both public and private sectors, judicial recognition of the adequacy principle in cross-border data transfer, significant roles in regional and global data privacy initiatives, initiating bilateral cooperation with other jurisdictions, licensing data protection compliance organizations, and starting the national data protection certification process.
Dr. Olatunji’s strategic and innovative initiatives have been instrumental in forging strong international partnerships, fostering sustainable growth, and promoting a culture of collaboration. His efforts have propelled the NDPC to new heights and set a benchmark for international cooperation and industry standards.
The Giovanni Buttarelli Award celebrates leaders who have shown exceptional leadership and promoted collaboration at regional or international levels in data privacy and protection. Nominees are evaluated based on their contributions to innovative projects and practices that significantly impact the international data protection and privacy community, as well as initiatives that enhance global cooperation and development.
In response to his nomination, Dr. Olatunji expressed his gratitude and highlighted the importance of collective effort in achieving global progress. “I am deeply honored to be nominated for the Giovanni Buttarelli Award 2024,” he said. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team at NDPC. It underscores the power of collaboration and the remarkable outcomes we can achieve when we work together across borders. I am excited to continue our journey, driving innovation and fostering partnerships that make a positive impact globally.”
