The National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has received a delegation from the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UKFCDO) on a working visit to the Commission.
The UKFCDO team was led by its Head of Green Growth and Private Sector, Dr. Paul Healey, who recently resumed duty in Nigeria.
Dr. Healey said the visit was aimed at familiarising himself with the operations of the Commission, reviewing ongoing initiatives, and exploring new areas of partnership between both institutions.
He noted that the UKFCDO remains committed to supporting investment flows between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, stressing the importance of data protection and privacy, particularly in cross-border data transfer.
In his response, Dr. Vincent Olatunji commended the UKFCDO for its continued support and engagement with the Commission.
He provided an overview of the evolution of data protection and privacy regulation in Nigeria, which culminated in the establishment of the NDPC through the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) in June 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr. Olatunji also highlighted some of the challenges facing the Commission but noted significant progress made so far, adding that the NDPC is now recognised as one of the most progressive Data Protection Authorities globally.
He further explained the Commission’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which has helped strengthen compliance levels and prepare Nigerian businesses for participation in the global digital economy.
Both parties also discussed additional areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening data governance, improving regulatory frameworks, and enhancing digital trust between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.