The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) made the call during a meeting in Abuja, where both institutions discussed stronger safeguards for personal information, staff capacity building and closer collaboration on data protection.
The meeting followed a courtesy visit by the NDPC, led by its National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, to NiDCOM.
Olatunji said the increasing amount of personal information Nigerians share online makes responsible data handling and adequate privacy safeguards more important than ever.
According to him, individuals now leave extensive digital footprints through their everyday online activities, creating a need for institutions and individuals to understand their responsibilities when collecting, processing and storing personal information.
He said the importance of data protection extends beyond financial and digital services to sensitive sectors such as healthcare, where the consequences of mishandling personal information could be severe.
Poor handling of health information, he warned, could contribute to misdiagnosis, incorrect medication and, in extreme circumstances, loss of life.
Olatunji explained that the NDPC was established to strengthen Nigeria’s data protection framework while protecting the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of individuals whose personal information is processed.
He also reminded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of their obligation to process personal information in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
The NDPC chief said the commission was expanding efforts around public awareness, institutional capacity building and the development of certified data protection professionals who can help organisations comply with applicable standards.
He offered the commission’s support to NiDCOM, particularly in training its personnel, improving public awareness and developing Data Protection Officers.
Olatunji also expressed the NDPC’s readiness to deepen institutional cooperation with NiDCOM as the commission continues to manage information relating to Nigerians living outside the country.
NiDCOM seeks Diaspora privacy safeguards
Responding to the NDPC delegation, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, welcomed the offer to train the commission’s staff, stressing that data protection was particularly important to an institution that routinely engages with Nigerians across different countries and collects substantial amounts of personal information.
She noted that NiDCOM’s responsibilities require it to handle information generated through its engagement with the Nigerian Diaspora, making the responsible management and protection of such information a critical institutional responsibility.
Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted the growing contribution of Nigerians to the global technology industry, particularly in Silicon Valley, and called for stronger partnerships with Nigerians in the Diaspora.
She said such partnerships could include public-private partnerships and greater involvement of Nigerians abroad in NiDCOM programmes and initiatives.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) boss also raised broader concerns about the extent to which individuals retain control over their personal information in an increasingly digital environment.
She questioned the ease with which personal information can be accessed or taken online without the knowledge or permission of the individuals concerned, underscoring the need for greater public understanding of privacy rights.
Dabiri-Erewa consequently called for expanded public education on data protection and suggested the establishment of a dedicated Diaspora desk to strengthen coordination between NiDCOM and the NDPC on matters relating specifically to Diaspora data.
Data protection law
The NiDCOM chairman commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, describing the legislation as an important framework for strengthening the protection of personal information in the country.
She said NiDCOM had already begun taking steps to align its digital infrastructure with data protection requirements.
According to her, the commission’s latest digital upgrade was undertaken with the support of a Nigerian based in Silicon Valley.
The upgrade, she explained, was designed to help NiDCOM keep pace with evolving data protection standards while strengthening its ability to manage information relating to Nigerians living outside the country.
The development is particularly relevant as NiDCOM expands its use of digital platforms to engage Nigerians in the Diaspora and improve access to information about the community.
Diaspora data mapping
The importance of data protection was also highlighted by the Head of Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI), Hon. Abdulrahman Terab, who linked privacy safeguards directly to NiDCOM’s Diaspora Data Mapping initiative.
Terab said the information being collected through the initiative was intended to support more effective engagement with Nigerians in the Diaspora, making its proper management and protection essential.
He noted that NiDCOM’s Diaspora Data Mapping Portal predates the establishment of the NDPC, reflecting the commission’s longstanding effort to develop reliable information on Nigerians living abroad.
As the initiative expands, he said, data protection must remain a central consideration.
“Stronger collaboration with the NDPC would help deepen awareness and capacity around data protection,” Terab said, adding that such cooperation would help Nigerians understand both the importance of protecting their personal information and their rights as data subjects.
He also stressed the responsibility of institutions collecting personal information to ensure that such data is handled securely, responsibly and in accordance with established data protection standards.
Growing importance of Diaspora data
The engagement between the two commissions comes as government institutions increasingly rely on digital platforms to collect, store and exchange information.
For NiDCOM, the issue has added significance because its mandate involves engagement with Nigerians spread across different countries and regions.
Effective Diaspora engagement requires accurate information, but the collection of such information also creates responsibilities around consent, security, access and appropriate use.
The NDPC’s proposed support for NiDCOM therefore provides an opportunity to strengthen internal capacity while improving public awareness among Nigerians who interact with the commission and its digital platforms.
Both institutions are expected to continue discussions on training, public education and institutional mechanisms for ensuring that information relating to Nigerians in the Diaspora is adequately protected.
As more Nigerians participate in the digital economy and government services increasingly move online, officials stressed that understanding data protection rights would become an increasingly important part of responsible digital citizenship.