Nigeria will host the 2026 National Privacy Week from January 28 to February 4, 2026, as the country intensifies efforts to strengthen data protection and privacy in the face of rapidly evolving digital technologies.
The event, themed “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics, and Innovation,” is aimed at raising nationwide awareness on data privacy and protection, educating citizens and organisations on emerging privacy risks, and promoting responsible and ethical use of technology. It will also provide practical guidance on safeguarding personal information in the digital space.
The National Privacy Week forms part of the broader implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (NDP-SRAP), which aligns with the eight priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the five strategic pillars of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy.
Since the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), 2023, the data protection regulator has recorded significant milestones. Compliance monitoring has expanded across both public and private sectors, with 38,677 Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance (DCPMIs) now registered. The ecosystem also includes 307 licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), while over 8,155 compliance audit returns have been filed.
According to the Commission, 246 data protection and privacy breach investigations have been concluded, leading to 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation directives. In addition, the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) was issued on March 20, 2025, with effect from September 19, 2025, to provide regulatory clarity. The NDP Act has also been translated into three major Nigerian languages to improve accessibility.
In August 2025, the Commission launched a multi-sector compliance drive, issuing compliance notices to 1,348 organisations across the banking, insurance, pension and gaming sectors.
Beyond regulation, the data protection ecosystem has contributed to economic growth, with over 23,000 jobs created, an estimated value of more than ₦16.2 billion, and over ₦5.2 billion generated in compliance revenue.
Internationally, Nigeria’s data protection framework has enhanced investor confidence and cross-border partnerships. The country has received the Picasso Award for Best Data Protection Authority in Africa, gained membership of the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA) and the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA), and hosted over 20 data protection authorities at the 8th NADPA Conference held in May 2025. The Commission has also signed memoranda of understanding with state governments and data protection authorities across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
In the area of capacity building, the regulator conducted the maiden National Data Protection Officer (DPO) Certification Examination, certifying 494 out of 500 candidates. It has also delivered 168 training programmes reaching 104,709 beneficiaries, launched a Virtual Privacy Academy, established Data Privacy Clubs in six tertiary institutions, and rolled out 10,575 awareness campaigns nationwide.
Looking ahead, the Commission said its 2026 priorities include increased public awareness on data protection, intensified enforcement of the NDP Act, expanded guidance for organisations on best practices, and continued certification of professionals to meet global data protection standards.
The 2026 National Privacy Week is expected to serve as a platform for reinforcing trust, ethics and innovation as Nigeria deepens its digital transformation.
