NIGERIA’s data protection ecosystem has created about 23,000 jobs and generated N5.2 billion in revenue.
This was revealed by the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, who also put the value of the country’s data privacy ecosystem at N16.2 billion in less than two years.

Olatunji said the Commission’s activities are guided by the pillars of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, stressing that the NDP-SRAP aligns with the eight priorities of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the five pillars of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy.

Speaking virtually at the weekend at a capacity-building engagement for journalists in Lagos to herald the 2026 National Privacy Week, with the theme “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics, and Innovation”, which will be held from January 28 to February 4, 2026, Olatunji said the figures reflected the growing importance of data protection in Nigeria’s digital economy.

He stressed that the Commission’s initiatives have created jobs, boosted compliance, and strengthened trust in digital transactions.

Olatunji explained that Nigeria’s journey in data protection began in 2019 with the establishment of the NDPR framework, which later evolved into the NDPC.

Since then, he said the Commission has focused on building awareness, strengthening compliance, and creating a robust ecosystem that integrates technology, collaboration, and sustainability.

According to him, there has been an expansion of compliance monitoring across public and private sectors, with 38,677 registered Data Controllers and Processors of Major Importance (DCPMIs) in line with the NDP Act, 2023.

He said there are now 307 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs) and over 8,155 Compliance Audit Returns have been filed.

Olatunji said 246 data protection and privacy breach investigations have been concluded, resulting in 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation directives.

He highlighted Nigeria’s active role in the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NARPA), stressing that the country has emerged as a continental leader in privacy regulation.