Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged African countries to work together to create a shared data governance framework that protects citizens’ privacy and develops the continent’s digital economy.
Shettima addressed on Tuesday at the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) in Abuja.
The three-day conference is entitled ‘Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies’.
Shettima was represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, President Bola Tinubu’s Deputy Chief of Staff.
The high-level meeting brought together data protection regulators and experts from over 30 African countries, as well as representatives from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.
Shettima said data had become a tool of trust in the digital age and must be governed by policies that reflect African values and realities.
He urged African nations to collaborate, exchange best practices and build legal frameworks that prioritise privacy and innovation.
Shettima said:
“As the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement expands the scale of inter-African exchange, our ability to share data securely and lawfully will define our capacity to thrive.”
“That is why forums like this are not only welcome but essential. They offer us a chance to cross-pollinate ideas, to nurture human capital, and to strengthen mechanisms for mutual legal assistance.”
He went on to say that a single continental approach would ensure that Africa is not just a passive consumer of global technology laws, but also a co-creator of digital standards.
To strengthen Nigeria’s leadership in data protection, the federal government established the Nigeria Virtual Privacy Academy.
Speaking at the event, Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, stated that the school would help the government expedite its efforts to create a secure and equitable digital economy.
Tijani explained that the platform is intended to deliver practical data privacy training to professionals in both the public and private sectors.
“To fully harness the benefits of digital trade and identity platforms, we must ensure that our value chains are secure, fair and transparent,” the minister said.
Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), stated that Nigeria has made considerable progress in developing a compliant and forward-thinking data protection framework since the passage of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) in 2023.
Olatunji also stated that the commission has done over 5,000 compliance evaluations, opened 223 investigations, and executed corrective actions in 12 important cases.
He stated that the initiatives had resulted in almost $1.2 million in regulatory income in just two years.
“Our focus remains on building a regulatory environment that supports innovation while safeguarding privacy,” Olatunji said.
The national commissioner also urged African countries who have yet to enact data protection legislation to do so, emphasising that “strong privacy regulations are not barriers to innovation, but enablers of inclusive growth.”
Iro Adamou, NADPA chairperson, was represented by the group’s vice-president, Immaculate Kassiat, who said the Abuja conference underscored Africa’s common commitment to protecting personal data in an increasingly digital environment.
“Our presence here is a testament to our unity and collective vision for a digital future that respects privacy,” he said.
Inga Stefanowicz, Nigeria’s head of section green economy, European Union (EU), also pledged continued support for data protection efforts in Africa.
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