NDPC and France Strengthen Partnership to Advance Data Protection and Privacy in Nigeria
Share
The National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, led a delegation to the French Embassy in Lagos to explore strategic collaboration between Nigeria and France in advancing data protection, privacy innovation, and regulatory capacity.
The meeting represents a major step toward international cooperation in privacy regulation, positioning Nigeria as a leading voice in data governance across Africa.
Strengthening International Collaboration
The NDPC delegation was received by the Regional Economic Department team of the French Embassy, led by Ms. Laura Marie, the Economic Counsellor and Delegate to the Head of the Regional Economic Department, Lagos Office.
The visit followed an earlier engagement between the NDPC and the Head of the Regional Economic Department for Nigeria–Ghana, Mr. Florent Mangin, at the French Embassy in Abuja. The Lagos meeting focused on defining the framework for technical partnership and knowledge exchange between the NDPC and France.
Areas of Proposed Collaboration
During the discussions, Ms. Marie expressed delight at NDPC’s commitment to partnering with France to improve Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem. She outlined several potential areas of collaboration, including:
| Proposed Area | Focus |
|---|---|
| Audit and Oversight Capacities | Strengthening institutional capacity for compliance monitoring and enforcement. |
| Data Protection in Service Design | Embedding privacy principles in digital innovation and public services. |
| Awareness and Education | Promoting citizen awareness and training stakeholders on data protection practices. |
These proposed areas align with the global principles of accountability and privacy by design, helping Nigeria advance toward international best practices.
Dr. Olatunji’s Remarks
Dr. Vincent Olatunji commended the French delegation for their hospitality and emphasized that this partnership would mark the beginning of a stronger bilateral relationship in privacy governance.
He noted that the initiative would not only strengthen regulatory alignment but also promote innovation, investment, and compliance culture within Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
Dr. Olatunji also shared highlights of the Nigeria Data Protection Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (NDP-SRAP) — a key policy framework designed to drive:
- Public-Private collaboration,
- Capacity development, and
- Integration of data protection principles across all sectors of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
He emphasized how the NDP-SRAP pillars complement France’s expertise in privacy oversight and regulatory enforcement, presenting a win-win opportunity for both nations.
Building on the Public-Private Partnership Model
The NDPC’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model was a major discussion point during the meeting. Dr. Olatunji highlighted how this innovative framework allows for collaborative data protection compliance, training, and industry-wide self-regulation — a model that is now attracting the attention of other data protection authorities globally.
France’s experience in regulatory capacity-building and audit systems was identified as a strong complement to Nigeria’s PPP-driven data protection structure.
Next Steps and Expected Outcomes
Both parties agreed to establish a joint technical working framework to:
- Define specific partnership projects;
- Identify capacity-building initiatives; and
- Facilitate exchange programs between Nigeria and France.
The meeting concluded with discussions on the next steps, expected outcomes, and measurable milestones that will guide the implementation of the partnership roadmap.
Networking Reception
Following the bilateral discussions, a networking cocktail reception was organized in honor of the NDPC delegation. The event brought together representatives from the Team France & Europe community, alongside the Consul General of France in Lagos, Mr. Laurent Favier.
The reception provided a platform for further dialogue on privacy innovation, digital trust, and bilateral cooperation in Africa’s emerging data economy.
Conclusion
The collaboration between the NDPC and the French Embassy marks an important chapter in Nigeria’s journey toward global data protection excellence. By aligning with France’s advanced privacy systems, Nigeria continues to strengthen its institutional capacity, international presence, and regulatory credibility in the data protection space.
As global data flows expand, partnerships like this ensure that privacy, trust, and compliance remain at the core of the digital transformation agenda.
