By Emmanuel Elebeke

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent directive mandating all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to safeguard information in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 is rapidly gaining traction across the nation.

The directive is already driving strategic collaborations, including a pivotal partnership with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and strong commitment from the Kano State Government.

Speaking at the maiden International Civil Service Conference 2025, President Tinubu declared: “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.”

The President’s remarks underscore the administration’s resolve to position data as a cornerstone of national development—enhancing transparency, accountability, and innovation.

Signed into law on June 12, 2023, the NDP Act 2023 represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to protect personal data and drive digital economic growth, in line with President Tinubu’s 8-point agenda. Emphasizing the importance of data-driven governance and international collaboration, he added:

 “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 response to the directive, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, recently received 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 leadership in advancing Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem. She highlighted MDCN’s key responsibility in maintaining the register of medical practitioners and managing highly sensitive health data.

She noted the serious national security risks posed by any breach of MDCN’s databases, and sought NDPC’s guidance on aligning its policies and operations with global best practices. The MDCN specifically requested support on digital health guidelines, policy development, governance frameworks, and staff capacity building—reaffirming its commitment to the ethical and lawful handling of health information.

Dr. Olatunji, in response, applauded MDCN’s proactive engagement, noting the extreme sensitivity of health data. He warned of the grave consequences of poor data handling, including misdiagnosis, stigmatization, and avoidable fatalities. He reaffirmed NDPC’s willingness to support the Council in embedding a robust data protection culture across the health sector.

To institutionalize this partnership, a joint working group has been constituted to facilitate the drafting and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NDPC and MDCN. The agreement will mark a crucial step toward safeguarding the privacy and security of Nigerians’ health information.

In a related development, Dr. Olatunji also received a high-level delegation from the Kano State Government, led by the  Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Koformata, on behalf of Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The visit reaffirmed Kano State’s proactive stance on implementing the NDP Act. During the engagement, Dr. Olatunji pledged the Commission’s full support for the state’s data protection initiatives and provided the delegation with detailed insights into the architecture of Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem.