As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, experts have highlighted the transformative impact of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) on the country’s economy, digital ecosystem, and international standing.
Mr. Tokunbo Smith, President of the Data Knowledge Information and Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI), said the signing of the NDPA by the President had generated billions of naira in revenue while creating thousands of jobs across multiple sectors.
According to him, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has so far licensed 274 Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), each employing between three to ten people, contributing significantly to youth employment. In addition, the law requires every organisation to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO), opening new professional opportunities and strengthening Nigeria’s digital workforce.
Smith explained that the Act is driving innovation and creativity, especially in the emerging field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which relies heavily on secure data regulation. He noted that the NDPC’s local certification exam, costing between N250,000 and N500,000, has made data protection knowledge more accessible to Nigerian youth, with certificates projected to gain wide recognition across Africa.
The growing reputation of Nigeria’s data protection framework, he added, has drawn interest from six African nations seeking to learn and possibly replicate the system. This international recognition, he stressed, has enhanced Nigeria’s global image and positioned the country as a leader in digital governance.
Beyond job creation and innovation, Smith said the NDPC’s public awareness campaigns — including translations of its applications into Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa — are helping to reduce Nigerians’ vulnerability to fraudsters and identity theft. This, he argued, not only strengthens national security but also improves Nigeria’s international reputation as fraud-related losses decline.
However, he acknowledged persistent challenges such as insufficient funding for the NDPC and reluctance from some corporate organisations to comply with the law. He called for aggressive awareness campaigns, compulsory compliance by all organisations, and increased government support to ensure the full implementation of the Act.
Smith concluded that adopting data protection as a national culture is essential to sustaining the economic gains and global recognition Nigeria has achieved under the NDPA.
