The Nigeria Data Protection Commission and the Nigeria Computer Society have deepened collaboration to accelerate data protection and privacy advocacy across Nigeria’s expanding digital economy. The renewed partnership was the focus of a strategic courtesy visit by the NCS leadership, led by its National President, Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, to the NDPC headquarters in Abuja.
The engagement comes as the Commission intensifies enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 while the NCS advances professional excellence and capacity building within the information technology sector.
During the meeting, Professor Aliyu commended Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, for his longstanding commitment to the IT ecosystem and the society. He said the visit was aimed at reinforcing synergy in policy advocacy and the execution of key industry programmes. According to him, the NCS is prepared to mobilise its nationwide network of IT professionals to support the Commission’s mandate of safeguarding the personal data of Nigerians and strengthening compliance culture across both public and private institutions.
Responding, Dr Olatunji underscored the central role of the private sector in translating regulatory frameworks into practical outcomes. He noted that while the NDPC provides policies and enforcement structures, professional bodies such as the NCS function as the engine room for implementation through awareness creation and skills development. He described public sensitisation as a core pillar of the Commission’s mandate and stressed that the success of data protection efforts depends significantly on the expertise, reach and credibility of IT practitioners across the country.
In a push for broader inclusivity within the technology ecosystem, Olatunji advised the NCS to review its membership criteria to accommodate non traditional tech innovators who may not hold formal computer science degrees but are actively shaping the digital landscape. He argued that widening the membership base would reflect the multidisciplinary character of modern technology and provide the society with a more diverse and resilient presence across sectors, thereby strengthening collective efforts toward secure digital transformation.
The NDPC has in recent months intensified partnerships, including a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian Communications Commission and a collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps to train 3,700 Corps members as certified Data Protection Officers. Since the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act in 2023, the Commission has focused on entrenching compliance among an estimated 500,000 data processors and controllers nationwide.
As the umbrella body for IT professionals, the NCS remains a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s ambition of building a one trillion dollar economy by 2030, a target anchored on robust digital infrastructure and strong data security governance.