Sri Lanka Data Protection Authority Visits Nigeria for Regulatory Knowledge Exchange

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is hosting a delegation from Sri Lanka’s Data Protection Authority for a two-day study tour focused on strengthening data protection regulation and institutional development.

The study tour, themed “Institutional Development, Regulatory Operations and Emerging Priorities in Data Protection,” is aimed at sharing knowledge and experiences between both countries.

Speaking virtually to the delegation, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, welcomed the Sri Lankan officials and appreciated the World Bank for supporting the Commission and facilitating the study tour.

Olatunji highlighted the development of Nigeria’s data protection framework, including the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.

He also outlined the key pillars of the Commission’s strategic roadmap and its public-private partnership model for advancing data protection in Nigeria.

The NDPC boss said the country’s data protection ecosystem had continued to impact data subjects, data controllers and the wider economy.

He also highlighted the Commission’s partnerships with data protection authorities, development partners and other stakeholders across the world.

According to Olatunji, the Sri Lankan delegation is the 18th international delegation to visit the NDPC for knowledge exchange.

He assured the delegation of Nigeria’s continued support and partnership as Sri Lanka works to strengthen its own data protection ecosystem.

The Director-General of Sri Lanka’s Data Protection Authority, Dimuth Bhashitha Atapattu, thanked the NDPC for the reception and said his country was currently working to strengthen its data protection framework.

Atapattu said Sri Lanka chose Nigeria for the study tour because of the significant progress recorded by the NDPC within a relatively short period.

He said the delegation would take the knowledge gained from Nigeria back to Sri Lanka and further strengthen cooperation between the two data protection authorities.

Also speaking, Senior Digital Development Specialist at the World Bank Group, Ida S. Mboob, commended the NDPC for its progress in developing Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem.

She noted that the Commission had moved from its early stages to achieving international recognition within a relatively short period.