The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on data protection awareness, privacy rights and compliance across Nigeria.
The agreement formalised the existing partnership between the two institutions and provided a framework for joint initiatives aimed at expanding public understanding of data protection and promoting compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), 2023.
Speaking at the signing, NDPC National Commissioner/CEO, Dr Vincent Olatunji, commended the Director-General of the NOA, Dr Lanre Onilu, for his commitment to formalising the collaboration between both institutions.
Olatunji said the MoU would support joint capacity-building and training programmes for NOA personnel, coordinated public awareness campaigns and the development of an action plan to expand data protection messaging through traditional and digital media.
He said awareness remained one of the major mandates of the NDPC, stressing the importance of leveraging NOA’s nationwide reach to deepen citizens’ understanding of their data protection rights.
According to him, the partnership would also help promote greater compliance with the NDP Act, 2023, while ensuring that data protection and privacy become more widely understood across different segments of society.
On his part, Onilu commended the NDPC under Olatunji’s leadership for its efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem.
He also congratulated the NDPC chief executive on the commissioning of the Commission’s new headquarters, while acknowledging the significant work required to advance data protection awareness and compliance nationwide.
Onilu reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to working with the Commission to broaden public awareness, strengthen compliance and contribute to building a more privacy-conscious Nigeria.
The MoU was signed by Olatunji on behalf of the NDPC and Onilu on behalf of the NOA.
It is expected to provide guidance on the applicability of the NDP Act to the mandate of the NOA, while establishing a structured framework for collaboration between the two institutions in promoting data protection and privacy awareness across Nigeria.
