It was a pleasure to participate in AI Everything Abu Dhabi 2026 at the ADNEC Centre, Abu Dhabi, alongside the Head of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Mr Olorunisomo Isola.
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how governments, businesses and societies operate. For countries like Nigeria, the opportunity is immense, but so is the responsibility to ensure that AI develops in a manner that is secure, accountable and worthy of public trust.
The conversations around Abu Dhabi’s AI vision and sovereign AI capabilities were particularly instructive. As nations seek greater control over their AI infrastructure, data and technological capabilities, it is equally important that innovation is accompanied by strong governance frameworks that protect fundamental rights and build confidence in emerging technologies.
A recurring theme throughout the summit was trust. As AI systems become increasingly autonomous, reliability, accountability, transparency, security and the protection of vulnerable users must remain central considerations. These principles cannot be introduced after an AI system has been deployed. Trust, privacy and security must be designed into AI systems from the outset.
We also examined the evolution from conventional chatbots to secure, enterprise-grade AI agents capable of interacting with organisational systems, workflows and institutional knowledge. The emergence of agentic AI presents enormous opportunities for productivity and public-sector transformation, while also creating new questions around oversight, accountability, cybersecurity and responsible data use.
As part of the Commission’s industry engagements, I met with SEINETIME, a France-based AI company, for a demonstration of its enterprise AI solution. Our discussions explored how AI can integrate organisational data, workflows and institutional knowledge to support smarter and more efficient decision-making.
For Nigeria, these global conversations are highly relevant. We must continue to embrace innovation while ensuring that the digital transformation of our economy and public institutions does not come at the expense of data protection and privacy.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026!
This October, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) joins the global community in promoting good cyber practices and a safer digital environment.
Every Nigerian has an active role to play in o* building a safer digital environment.
#championingprivacyrights #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth
Ibadan people, look up!
The Goldberg Drum is now live on the Cocoa House skyline. It chimes every hour and lights up at night.
CocoaHouseTalkingDrum
OurBeatOurGold
TheGoldStandard
The National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, received the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (, Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s new headquarters.
Dr Olatunji welcomed Mr Inuwa and appreciated him for his support throughout the Commission’s transition from being a unit within NITDA to becoming an independent Commission. He recalled the evolution of the data protection ecosystem in Nigeria, from the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) to the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He also highlighted some of the Commission’s achievements since its establishment, noting its growing impact on the data protection ecosystem, the digital economy and national development.
In his response, Mr Inuwa expressed delight at the progress recorded by the NDPC and commended Dr Olatunji for the growth of the data protection ecosystem. He acknowledged the journey of data protection in Nigeria from its roots within NITDA to the establishment of the NDPC as a full-fledged Commission.
The DG reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to strengthening its support and collaboration with the NDPC, noting that cooperation among government agencies in advancing their respective mandates would contribute significantly to the growth and development of Nigeria’s digital economy.
It was a pleasure to receive the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, on a courtesy visit to our new headquarters at the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
I sincerely appreciated him for his unwavering support throughout our transition from a unit within NITDA to becoming a full-fledged independent Commission. We had the opportunity to reflect on the evolution of data protection in Nigeria: from the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) to the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
I also shared some of the Commission’s achievements since its establishment and our growing impact on the data protection ecosystem, the digital economy and national development.
Mr Inuwa expressed delight at the progress we have recorded and commended the growth of the ecosystem. He reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the NDPC, noting that cooperation among government agencies in advancing their respective mandates will contribute significantly to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
I value the continued partnership between NDPC and NITDA, and look forward to deepening our collaboration for a trusted and thriving digital Nigeria.