NDPC advocates privacy by design for Africa’s digital identity infrastructure

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has called for the integration of “Trust by Design” principles into Africa’s evolving digital identity infrastructure to ensure long-term security and user confidence.

Speaking at GITEX Nigeria 2026 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Barrister Babatunde Bamigboye, the Commission’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations Department, emphasised that privacy must be a foundational element of digital transformation rather than an afterthought.

Representing the National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, Bamigboye participated as a panellist on the topic, “Trust by Design: The Future of Africa’s Digital Identity Infrastructure.” He noted that as the continent’s digital identity systems expand, trust remains the most critical component for successful deployment.

Bamigboye highlighted that Nigeria has made significant strides in its data protection ecosystem following the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. He urged developers and stakeholders to adopt “Privacy by Design and Default” principles, ensuring that privacy controls are embedded into the very architecture of innovative digital solutions.

The event was opened by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuiab Afolabi Salisu, and featured a keynote address from the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

The NDPC’s position reinforces the regulatory requirement for data controllers and processors to treat privacy as a core technical specification when building identity management systems and other large-scale digital infrastructures.