The formation of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau has been authorized by President Muhammadu Buhari (NDPB).
He has also authorized the nomination of Dr. Vincent Olatunji as the Bureau’s National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer.
Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, Spokesperson to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, stated on Friday that the Bureau was established in response to a request made by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami).
According to Suleiman, the NDPB was founded in accordance with global best practices and would focus on data protection and privacy for the country, among other things.
“The effective execution of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria has greatly expanded data platform use and expedited our society’s datafication.”
“This has raised the need to establish a data protection and privacy institution.”
“Furthermore, the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) in January 2019, as a subsidiary legislation to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007, has raised awareness of the need of data protection and privacy.”
“The Bureau will be in charge of consolidating the NDPR’s accomplishments and assisting in the creation of fundamental laws for data protection and privacy.”
“President Buhari also supports the recommendation of Professor Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, for Dr. Vincent Olatunji to serve as the Bureau’s National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer.”
Dr. Olatunji comes from Ekiti State and was the Director of the eGovernment Development and Regulations Department at NITDA at the time of his appointment.
According to the announcement, the appointment is effective immediately.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji earned his PhD in Geography and Planning from the University of Lagos, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Computer Studies.
He is a PECB Certified Data Protection Officer and a Certified Public Private Partnership Specialist (IP3 Specialist).
He has spent over 30 years in the public sector, gaining practical experience and a deep grasp of government operations in Nigeria and other nations.
He provides extensive expertise in team building, research activities, policy creation, and strategic planning on numerous development efforts in Nigeria’s three levels of government.
He also has substantial talent in delivering high-value solutions as a competent negotiator, social networker, and public speaker, with a personal concentration on working with teams and individuals to maximize economic potential.
He joined NITDA in 2002 and has worked in a variety of departments, eventually rising to the position of Director in 2014 and Acting DG in 2016.
He was the Director of eGovernment Development and Regulations at the National Information Technology Development Agency prior to his appointment (NITDA).
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