The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has officially unveiled the Data Protection Virtual Academy, a pioneering initiative aimed at delivering digital training on data privacy and protection across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
The launch took place in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the 8th edition of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) Conference and Annual General Meeting. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani, performed the official launch, describing the academy as a globally unprecedented initiative.
“It is therefore my honour to formally launch the Data Protection Virtual Academy—a bold and innovative step towards building a digitally secure and globally competitive workforce for Nigeria,” Tijjani said. “This platform offers every Nigerian from civil servants and private sector employees to young job seekers—access to practical training on data protection principles and basic cyber hygiene.”
Speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the country balances innovation with data privacy in the age of emerging technologies.
He highlighted Nigeria’s progress in data protection, noting that the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation was introduced in 2019. He also recalled that within 14 days of assuming office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Nigeria Data Protection Act into law, establishing the NDPC.
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“In 2024, Nigeria signed the Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection,” he noted. “Just this March, the General Application Implementation Directive of the Data Protection Act came into force. These steps affirm our alignment with global human rights standards and demonstrate that our data protection ecosystem supports the administration’s eight presidential priorities.”
Also addressing delegates, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, called for deeper collaboration among African data protection authorities to build a secure and resilient digital future for the continent.
“I am optimistic that the outcomes of this conference will shape a trusted African digital future,” he said. “NADPA must continue to serve as a central platform for continental data governance. Nigeria is committed to supporting this goal through cooperation, enforcement, capacity building and knowledge sharing.”
The Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA), founded in 2016 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, brings together national data protection regulators across Africa. Its mission is to promote harmonisation of data protection frameworks, strengthen privacy rights, and encourage responsible digital governance.
This year’s conference, held under the theme “Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies,” provides a crucial forum for advancing discussions that will shape Africa’s digital landscape while safeguarding privacy as a core principle of development.
