They made the call at the opening ceremony of a five-day data governance study visit for Data Protection Authorities, a data governance initiative in Africa, hosted by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission in Abuja.
Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of NDPC, said that although 36 African countries had enacted data protection laws, only 26 of them have established dedicated data protection authorities.
Olatunji also said it was not enough to establish data protection laws, but data protection required the implementation of laws and cross-border cooperation of countries. He said that Africa’s population of over 1.4 billion people presented immense opportunities for a thriving digital economy under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
“This potential can only be realised if the continent develops a single digital market that is supported by a free, responsible flow of data and a proper governance structure,” Olatunji said.
Olatunji also mentioned that the country has generated over $1.5 million in registration fees and trained over 23,000 data protection officers in the past three years.
Salisu Afolabi, chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, said lawmakers had produced the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill to remove legal uncertainties in electronic transactions.
“We are working with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to ensure we have a law that is robust enough and in line with global best practices,” he said.
Afolabi urged data protection authorities across the continent to leverage artificial intelligence in building a strong data governance structure, as well as engage lawmakers in formulating data governance laws.
Massimo de Luca, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said that emerging technologies could drive efficiency and empowerment, but could not be sustained without strong data governance frameworks.
“Data protection is a key pillar in promoting trust from citizens and businesses in the digital economy, driving strong economic growth. Data protection authorities not only safeguard citizens’ privacy but also attract investment and facilitate data flows for regional prosperity.
“They are needed to realise the African digital single market in line with the goals of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and the African Union data policy framework,” Luca said.
Felix Reinhold, representative of the German Embassy, urged African countries to take all necessary measures to secure their data internally.
“We believe that Africa’s data should remain in Africa’s hands, and this means protecting the rights and privacy of citizens. It also entails ensuring that the value generated from data contributes to local innovation, sustainable development and the well-being of African societies. We must also guard against data monopolies because our shared vision is to foster a trusted and equitable digital,” Reinhold said.
Christelle Onana, head of digitalisation, African Union, recalled that the adoption of the AU Data Protection Policy Framework in February 2022 marked a bold stride towards a unified and inclusive data governance structure.
The tour brought together delegates from Tanzania, Mozambique, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Eswatini, Botswana and Nigeria.
