By Dele Ogbodo
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has constituted the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for its forthcoming international conference of Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RADPA) scheduled to hold in May, 2025 in Abuja.
While constituting the LOC at the Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja, NDPC, National Chairman, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, acknowledged that the committee comprised representatives from its parent Ministry, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), NIPOST, NIGCOMSAT, Foreign Affairs Ministry, the World Bank represented by ID4D Project office, Digital Transformation Center, European Union (EU), Meta, Google, AWS, Microsoft, Management Edge, ISACA, MasterCard, and the Office of Data Protection Commissioner, Kenya for the forthcoming Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RADPA) conference and Annual General Meeting scheduled for May, 2025 in Abuja.
The Head, Media Unit, NDPC, Mr. Itunu Dosekun, in a statement expressed optimism that event will attract who is who is data protection and privacy landscape from across Africa and beyond, including Heads of Data Protection Authorities, data protection experts, multinational corporations, development partners, and foreign investors.
According to him, the planned international conference aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s 8th-point agenda primed towards economic growth and job creation.
Olatunji, the statement added, expressed his appreciation to members of the LOC members for their enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate with the Commission to ensure the success of the event.
He underscored the significance of the conference, describing it as the largest event in Africa’s data protection and privacy ecosystem.
“This event is not about the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) or the NDPC alone, but about Nigeria. That is why we have selected committee members from diverse sectors.” he said.
The NDPC boss, urged the committee members to work collaboratively and exchange ideas to bring the world to Nigeria and ensure the success of the event. He emphasized that the conference will be a crucial platform to showcase Nigeria as a peaceful, safe, and attractive investment destination.
“We must highlight Nigeria’s positive image and prove that Nigeria is a good and hospitable country.” he added.
He noted that Nigeria’s hosting of the NADPA-RADPA conference underscores the NDPC’s traction within a short period of establishment and the nation’s commitment to data protection and digital innovation on the global stage.
He said: “though we started later than some in the data protection and privacy ecosystem, we have already made significant strides, even at the global level.”
The Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RADPA), established in Ouagadougou in September 2016, consists of 23 Data Protection Authorities and others with observer status from across Africa. Its primary objective is to provide a platform for exchanges and cooperation among its members while amplifying Africa’s voice in global partnerships.