The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) have strengthened their partnership to enhance data protection advocacy and awareness across Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
The collaboration was highlighted during a strategic courtesy visit by NCS President, Professor Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, to the NDPC headquarters in Abuja. The partnership aims to deepen industry ties, particularly in policy advocacy and the implementation of flagship initiatives targeting data privacy compliance.
Professor Aliyu praised NDPC’s National Commissioner/CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, for his commitment to the broader IT ecosystem, emphasizing that the NCS is ready to mobilize its network of IT professionals to support the Commission’s mandate of safeguarding Nigerians’ personal data.
Dr. Olatunji stressed that while NDPC sets regulatory frameworks, professional associations like NCS are critical for translating policies into actionable programmes through awareness campaigns and capacity-building initiatives. He highlighted that public education remains a key component of advancing data protection nationwide.
In a bid to foster greater inclusivity, Dr. Olatunji encouraged NCS to expand its membership to non-traditional tech practitioners who actively contribute to innovation, even if they lack formal computer science degrees. He noted that this would enhance the society’s reach and reflect the multidisciplinary nature of today’s digital ecosystem.
The NDPC has recently partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train over 3,700 Corps members as certified Data Protection Officers and has signed agreements with other regulatory bodies to strengthen compliance culture. Since the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the Commission has focused on educating the country’s estimated 500,000 data processors and controllers on proper data handling practices.
As the leading professional body for IT experts in Nigeria, the NCS remains a pivotal partner in the country’s drive toward a secure, digitally enabled economy, underpinning national goals of sustainable growth and technological advancement.
