Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem has grown to N16.2 billion (about US$10.6 million) within three years of formal regulation, according to the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
The growth highlights expanding opportunities in Nigeria’s privacy sector, driven by increased demand for data protection Officers, compliance consultants, cybersecurity firms, legal and regulatory advisers, privacy training providers, and risk and audit professionals.
Olufemi Ibitayo, head of finance management and control at the NDPC, disclosed the figure at the Regional Data Governance Exchange in Nairobi, Kenya, where he represented Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC.
The NDPC said the growth reflects the impact of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which moved data protection from a voluntary compliance practice to an enforceable regulatory framework.
Ibitayo said establishing an independent data protection authority and strengthening the regulatory framework had improved confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy, enhanced investor perceptions and increased the country’s attractiveness for foreign investment.
He said the Commission’s “Compliance First, Not Punishment” approach encourages organisations to meet their obligations through dialogue and voluntary compliance while maintaining regulatory oversight.
The NDPC said 2026 will bring stricter enforcement, particularly in high-risk sectors including fintech, banking, telecommunications, healthcare and digital platforms.
The Commission is also developing regulatory technology solutions, a regulatory sandbox and a data privacy innovation laboratory to strengthen Nigeria’s data governance ecosystem.
The NDPC said data protection has become a core operational requirement for organisations handling sensitive personal information, including financial services providers, telecommunications companies, e-commerce platforms, health technology firms, education technology providers and government agencies.
The Regional Data Governance Exchange, organised by the Data Governance in Africa Initiative and hosted by Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, brought together African regulators to strengthen institutional capacity, encourage collaboration and support peer learning on data governance.
Meanwhile, Olatunji reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global data governance during a meeting with ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Commission on International Trade Law session.
Olatunji said reforms introduced since the enactment of the NDPA 2023 had positioned Nigeria as a significant voice in global data protection, adding that trusted data governance remains important for digital transformation, innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Ibrahim commended the Commission’s progress and called for the establishment of a comprehensive national data bank to support evidence-based policymaking, research and national development.
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