The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has called for trust, privacy and data protection to remain central to the development of Africa’s emerging digital identity infrastructure.

The Commission made the call at GITEX Nigeria 2026, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, where the National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, was represented by the Head of the Legal, Enforcement and Regulations Department, Barrister Babatunde Bamigboye.

Bamigboye, who participated as a panellist at the event, spoke on the theme, “Trust by Design: The Future of Africa’s Digital Identity Infrastructure,” and highlighted Nigeria’s progress in strengthening its data protection ecosystem since the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

He stressed that as African countries accelerate the development of digital identity systems and other technology-driven services, privacy and data protection must remain integral to the process.

According to him, the growing deployment of digital technologies makes it imperative for stakeholders to build systems that inspire confidence among citizens and protect personal data from misuse.

Bamigboye also reiterated the importance of incorporating Privacy by Design and Privacy by Default principles into the development and deployment of innovative digital solutions.

He explained that privacy considerations should be integrated from the earliest stages of technology development rather than treated as an afterthought.

The NDPC representative noted that building trust into digital infrastructure would not only strengthen data protection but also support wider adoption of digital services across the continent.

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

The discussions at GITEX Nigeria 2026 further underscored the need for collaboration among government institutions, technology stakeholders and regulators in building a secure, inclusive and trusted digital ecosystem for Nigeria and Africa.

For the NDPC, the message was clear: Africa’s digital future must be built not only on innovation, but on trust and responsible protection of citizens’ personal data.