Nigeria isn’t just watching the global AI and privacy conversation from afar — it’s now right at the center of it. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) recently showed up at the 47th Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) in Seoul, South Korea, and yes, it’s a pretty big deal.
Leading Nigeria’s delegation was Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the NDPC’s National Commissioner and CEO, who joined over 148 Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) and organizations from 95 different countries. The focus of the Assembly? A topic that feels super close to home for all of us: “Artificial Intelligence in Our Daily Lives: Data and Privacy Issues.”
Let’s be real — AI is everywhere now. From how your phone organizes photos to how businesses predict what you’ll buy next, AI is constantly interacting with our personal data. Which raises the big question: who’s protecting our privacy while all this is happening? That’s exactly the kind of conversation GPA is built for.
But Nigeria didn’t just fly in for the group chats and keynote speeches. The NDPC also rolled up its sleeves in bilateral meetings with global stakeholders. These one-on-one sessions focused on sharing best practices, strengthening international ties, and reviewing how different countries are building legal and regulatory guardrails for the digital age.
For Nigeria, this is bigger than networking. It’s part of a long-term play: fostering responsible innovation while making sure citizens don’t get left vulnerable as technology races ahead.
At its core, the GPA is more than just a conference — it’s where countries figure out how to keep data protection evolving alongside rapid digital transformation. And now, Nigeria is officially in the room where it happens.
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