NDPC Details Child Privacy Enforcement, Initiatives at PrivCon Summit

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has reinforced its commitment to safeguarding children’s online privacy and enforcing the statutory duty of care, outlining its recent initiatives at the fourth annual PrivCon Summit held in Lagos.

Ms Omoikhefe Ahimie, Manager of the NDPC’s Lagos Office, represented the National Commissioner/CEO, Dr Vincent Olatunji, at the event. She emphasised the critical role of privacy in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy, stating that privacy considerations must be deliberately integrated into all systems, decisions, and interactions.

During a panel session titled “I Am Just a Baby: Children’s Privacy, Online Safety and Sundry Issues,” Mrs Ibukunoluwa Owa, Head of the Commission’s Regulations Unit, highlighted the severe risks associated with the misuse of children’s personal data. She called for enhanced safeguards, accessible reporting mechanisms, and widespread privacy awareness among children, parents, and educators.

Mrs Owa underscored the NDPC’s recent investigative and compliance activities, which aim to enforce the statutory duty of care as prescribed by the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act). She stressed that digital platforms bear a significant responsibility to create safe and privacy-conscious processing environments for minors.

The Commission’s ongoing initiatives to advance child online protection include a recent survey, extensive stakeholder engagement with parents and educators, and the “Adopt-a-School” programme. These efforts aim to foster a safer digital environment for Nigerian children.