Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has officially inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the upcoming Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RADPA) Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM). The event is scheduled to take place in Abuja in May 2025. The inauguration ceremony was held at the NDPC office in Abuja.
Nigeria, through the NDPC, is set to host the 10th edition of this prestigious conference, which will attract distinguished delegates and participants from across Africa and beyond. Attendees will include Heads of Data Protection Authorities, data protection experts, multinational corporations, development partners, and foreign investors. This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8th-point agenda focused on economic growth and job creation.
During his inaugural speech, Dr. Olatunji expressed his gratitude to the LOC members for their enthusiasm and commitment to working with the Commission to ensure the event’s success. He highlighted the significance of the conference, describing it as the largest gathering in Africa’s data protection and privacy ecosystem. “This event is not just about the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) or the NDPC; it’s about Nigeria,” Dr. Olatunji stated. “That is why we have selected committee members from diverse sectors.”
The LOC is composed of representatives from various sectors, including FMCIDE, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIPOST, NIGCOMSAT, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Bank’s ID4D Project office, Digital Transformation Center, European Union, Meta, Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Management Edge, ISACA, MasterCard, the Office of Data Protection Commissioner of Kenya, and the media, among others.
Dr. Olatunji urged the committee members to collaborate effectively and share ideas to bring global attention to Nigeria and ensure the event’s success. He emphasized that the conference would be a vital platform to showcase Nigeria as a peaceful, safe, and attractive destination for investment. “We must highlight Nigeria’s positive image and demonstrate that Nigeria is a good and hospitable country,” he added.
He also noted that hosting the NADPA-RADPA conference is a testament to the NDPC’s rapid progress since its establishment and Nigeria’s commitment to data protection and digital innovation on the global stage. “Though we started later than some in the data protection and privacy ecosystem, we have already made significant strides, even at the global level,” Dr. Olatunji remarked.
The Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RADPA) was established in Ouagadougou in September 2016 and comprises 23 Data Protection Authorities, along with others holding observer status from across Africa. Its primary goal is to provide a platform for exchange and cooperation among its members while amplifying Africa’s voice in global data protection partnerships.
