The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance data protection and strengthen the nation’s broadcasting.

In his remarks, NBC Director General, Charles Ebuebu, emphasised the need for broadcasters and media organisations to align with global best practices in data privacy and information management.

He stated that “data is now the oxygen of broadcasting”, providing insights into audience preferences and viewing patterns that are crucial to the sustainability of the broadcast business. He further added that this engagement is important to the success of Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO), as it would provide the regulatory and governance framework needed to build trust in audience measurement systems.

The agreement is also expected to support training initiatives designed to help broadcasters understand and comply with data protection regulations while maintaining ethical standards in information dissemination.

Having signed the agreement, both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement as they move towards implementation, with the shared vision of building a broadcasting sector that thrives on accountability, innovation, and resilience in the digital era.

Welcoming the NBC team, the National Commissioner / Chief Executive Officer of NDPC, Vincent Olayinka, described the MoU as a strategic partnership aimed at promoting awareness, compliance, and enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Act across the broadcasting industry.

He noted that with the increasing use of digital platforms, streaming services, and online broadcasting, protecting citizens’ data has become more important than ever.