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Regulatory Alignment, Data Sovereignty Critical For Africa’s Digital Space

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, has listed regulatory alignment, data sovereignty and trust as three fundamental pillars critical for securing Africa’s digital space and creating an enabling environment to support sustainable digital development.

National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji disclosed this on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA 81, with the theme: “Securing the Digital Frontier: Regulatory Alignment, Data Sovereignty, and Trust as Catalysts for Future Readiness.”

The event, which assembled stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges in shaping Africa’s digital economy, highlighted Africa as a continent with significant potential to thrive in the digital century.

Olatunji stated that critical gaps must be addressed to fully realise the potentials in Africa, calling for stronger regulatory alignment, data sovereignty and trust as critical foundations for Africa’s digital transformation.

The NDPC boss harped on the importance of establishing compatible regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions, particularly as African countries increasingly rely on data to drive economic growth, innovation and public-sector development.

He noted that regulatory compatibility would help facilitate responsible data use while ensuring that the rights and privacy of individuals remained protected.

Olatunji linked data protection and privacy as forms of economic infrastructure, adding that effective data governance is not merely a regulatory requirement but an important component of a functional and competitive digital economy.

He said: “Building confidence in how personal and institutional data are collected, processed, stored and transferred is essential to encouraging innovation and strengthening participation in the digital economy.

The NDPC boss highlighted Nigeria’s progress in its data protection journey, citing the country’s growing digital ecosystem and the opportunities it presents for innovation, investment and economic development.

Olatunji noted that Nigeria’s experience demonstrates the importance of developing appropriate institutional and regulatory structures to support digital transformation while safeguarding citizens’ data and privacy.


He reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to international collaboration, encouraging other countries to place greater priority on data protection and privacy as they develop their digital economies.

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