By Angela Atabo
Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) have sought partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), on data protection compliance, capacity building, and professional training.
The President and Chairman-in-Council of NIEEE, Felix Adegboye,made this known when he led a delegation of the Institue on a courtesy visit to the National Commissioner/CEO of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji in Abuja.
According to Adegboye, NIEEE as a professional body representing over 10,000 registered Electrical and Electronic Engineers is the custodians of standards, ethics and technical excellence that fuels Nigeria’s economy.
Adegboye said that the courtesy visit resonated with the value which NIEEE placed on the commission’s activities.
“We recognise that data protection goes beyond just a legal requirement; it is a technical imperative.
“We need secured engineering for privacy of data,”he said.
Adegboye explained that the courtesy visit was anchored on three key pillars of collaboration and standards; capacity building based on NDPA Act 2023; and joint policy advocacy on emerging technologies.
He further requested the establishment of an NIEEE Desk within the NDPC and formally sorted the National Commissioner’s support and invited him to his Investiture as the 22nd President of the institute scheduled for 21 February 2026.
He congratulated the NDPC leadership, adding that the NDPC under him as the pioneer CEO has become a beacon to trust in Nigeria digital landscape.
Responding, Olatunji expressed appreciation for the visit, adding that the commission’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan aligned with NIEEE’s request.
Olatunji explained that the roadmap was structured around five pillars of governance; ecosystem and technology; capacity development; cooperation and collaboration; and sustainability.
He stated that with a staff strength of not more than 110 officers, the commission relied heavily on strategic partnerships, especially considering Nigeria’s extensive data ecosystem across its 774 local government areas.
The national commissioner highlighted NDPC’s achievements to include training of over 38,000 personnel in data protection, the creation of approximately 23,000 direct and indirect jobs, and positioning Nigeria as a reference point for data protection practice across Africa.
He emphasised that effective data protection depended on strong legal implementation, robust public-private partnerships, and continuous innovation.
Olatunji affirmed the commission’s readiness to collaborate with NIEEE through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), including the integration of an NIEEE Desk within the Commission and other mutually beneficial initiatives.
He recommended the nomination of technical focal persons to work on drafting the MoU, coordinating investiture engagement, and supporting implementation of the strategic roadmap.
He also indicated NDPC’s willingness to allocate training slots to NIEEE members in forthcoming capacity-building programmes and expressed his intention to attend and support the NIEEE Presidential Investiture.
Olatunji also invited the NIEEE delegation to participate and speak at the opening ceremony of the Data Privacy Summit 2026, themed ‘Privacy in the Era of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation’.
In her contribution, Vice President (ICT), NIEEE, Atinuke Owolabi, encouraged strong NIEEE–NDPC participation in the National Technical Discourse on Data Protection.
Other members of the NIEEE delegation included: the Vice President(ICT), NIEEE, Atinuke Owolabi, Executive Secretary, Mr Kazeem Lawal, the Abuja Chapter Chairman, Maiyaki Ohida and his Deputy, Lydia Oluwaniran and the chapter Treasurer, Favour Ejim.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
