The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has described data privacy as a core national value essential to human dignity, trust, and responsible citizenship, as key stakeholders gathered for the Second Data Privacy Summit 2026, to discuss privacy in the era of emerging technologies.
The summit was organised by the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Issa-Onilu said data protection goes beyond technical and regulatory concerns, aligning with NOA’s mandate of shaping mindsets and strengthening moral and civic values as captured in the National Values Charter.
He explained that the Charter promotes dignity, integrity, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights, both offline and online, adding that integrating civic education with data protection will help nurture ethically aware and digitally responsible citizens.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Wilson-Jack, who also delivered a goodwill message at the event, stressed that emerging technologies are rapidly transforming governance and service delivery, making data protection fundamental to ethical governance, accountability, and sustainable innovation.
From the security perspective, the Director, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, Commissioner of Police Uche Ifeanyi Henry, who described data as the “new product” driving modern institutions and national security, warned that cybercrime and data breaches now pose serious threats globally and in Nigeria. He highlighted the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in tackling cybercrime and called for stronger collaboration to address trust and security challenges.
Meanwhile, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), represented by its Head of ICT, Engr. Lanre Yusuf, conveyed goodwill messages on behalf of the DG/CEO, Dr. Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote. He assured Nigerians of the safety of their data, disclosed that over 128 million citizens have been captured under the National Identification Number system, and reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to a secure and inclusive digital identity management.
