By Deborah Abodurin and Stellamaris Ashinze

Stakeholders in Africa’s data protection ecosystem have called for stronger partnerships among governments, regulators, businesses and communities to safeguard personal information.

They made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 Data Protection Africa Summit in Lagos, under the theme ‘Strengthening Data Protection Through Strategic Partnerships’.

The stakeholders said effective data protection required collective action beyond legislation and regulatory enforcement, urging greater public awareness and institutional cooperation.

The Executive Director of the Africa Digital Rights Hub, Ms Teki Akuetteh, said differences in African countries’ data protection laws could complicate cross-border data transfers.

She cited differences between Nigeria’s and Ghana’s data protection laws, saying they could affect data transfers and financial transactions between both countries.

Akuetteh said harmonising data protection practices through strategic partnerships would facilitate cross-border collaboration and build trust among regulators and institutions.

She identified the African Union’s data policy and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol as opportunities for strengthening cooperation.

“Even when you have the same laws, different regulators may interpret and implement them differently, making strategic partnerships important,” she said.

Akuetteh described data protection as a fundamental right rather than merely a legal or regulatory issue, stressing that everyone deserved personal information protection.

She said the summit provided opportunities for regulators, businesses and other stakeholders to share experiences and develop solutions to emerging technological challenges.

According to her, the summit, first held in Mauritius in 2018, brings together regulators, service providers and consumers to address data protection challenges.

She announced plans for an outcome-based collaborative regulatory approach, focusing on identifying problems, assigning responsibilities and ensuring implementation of agreed solutions.

Akuetteh also announced plans to establish a Centre of Excellence involving African universities, regulators and practitioners to develop solutions to data protection challenges.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said data protection was fundamentally about public trust, particularly as more government services moved online.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Technology, Innovation and Broadband, Mr Ganiyu Oseni, said citizens expected responsible handling of their personal information.

He said the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, provided a stronger legal foundation, but its objectives required cooperation across different sectors.

“Effective data protection strengthens public confidence, supports responsible innovation and creates a more secure environment for investment and economic activities,” he said.

The National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, said effective implementation of data protection laws required cross-sector collaboration.

Olatunji said Nigeria’s population, growing volume of data and increasing number of cases made partnerships essential to the commission’s work.

He said collaboration with public and private sector organisations was critical to expanding awareness, improving compliance and strengthening Nigeria’s privacy ecosystem.

Also, a traditional ruler, Dr Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara, called for grassroots awareness, urging traditional institutions to partner government agencies in educating communities about digital privacy.

Ogunsanwo said awareness should extend beyond technology professionals and regulators to ordinary citizens, particularly children and young people exposed to online risks.

He identified universities as important partners in promoting responsible technology use and advocated sustained privacy awareness campaigns across tertiary institutions.

He also urged African countries to share regulatory experiences, institutional practices and technological innovations, particularly in addressing cross-border data transfers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit extended its awareness campaign to schools, health centres and markets.

The initiative aims to ensure that data protection knowledge reaches ordinary citizens beyond government institutions and the technology sector.

The summit brought together data protection regulators from more than 15 African countries, alongside policymakers, industry representatives, academics and digital rights advocates.

NAN reports that the 2026 edition was convened by the NDPC in collaboration with the Africa Digital Rights Hub. (NAN)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo