President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent directive to all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to safeguard information in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 is swiftly gaining momentum across the nation. This presidential mandate is already fostering significant collaborations, including a pivotal partnership with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and a strong commitment from Kano State.
In a pivotal address at the maiden International Civil Service Conference 2025, President Tinubu said, “Data is the new oil, but unlike oil, its value increases the more it is refined and responsibly shared. I therefore direct all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies to capture information rigorously and safeguard it under the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.” This directive underscores the administration’s commitment to harnessing data as a critical resource for national development, fostering transparency, accountability, and innovation.
It will be recalled that President Tinubu signed the NDP Act 2023 into law on June 12, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to protect personal data and promote digital economy, in line with the President’s 8-point agenda. He also emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making and data transparency as well as international collaboration. He said, “We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified datasets within Nigeria and share them in internationally-recognised repositories. This will allow global benchmarking organisations to track our progress in real-time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage”.
In the light of this, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji welcomed the Registrar/CEO of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Prof. Fatima Kyari, and her team on a working visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Prof. Kyari commended Dr. Olatunji’s efforts in advancing Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem, acknowledging the MDCN’s critical role in maintaining the register of medical practitioners and the sensitive health records of Nigerians.
Prof. Kyari emphasized the potential national security risks associated with any compromise of the data held by the MDCN. Their visit aimed to seek NDPC’s guidance on policy development, ensuring alignment with global best practices in data protection and privacy. Specifically, the MDCN requested input on their digital health guidelines, policy development, governance framework, and capacity building for their personnel, affirming a commitment to secure, lawful, and ethical handling of sensitive information.
Dr. Olatunji commended the MDCN’s proactive stance, agreeing on the extreme sensitivity of health data. He highlighted the severe consequences of inadequate data safeguarding, including misdiagnoses, stigmatization, and even fatalities. He reiterated NDPC’s readiness to collaborate with the MDCN to embed data protection and privacy as a fundamental culture within the health sector.
To formalize this critical partnership, a working group has been established to advance the relationship between the NDPC and MDCN, which will include the drafting and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations. This collaboration is set to significantly bolster the protection of sensitive health information for all Nigerians.
In a related development, Dr. Olatunji recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf; led by the Honourable Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Koformata, demonstrating the state’s proactive approach to implementing the NDP Act. During this meeting, Dr. Olatunji reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the state’s initiatives and provided the delegation with insights into the fundamentals of the data protection ecosystem.