Data privacy has been identified as a core national value essential to human dignity, trust, and responsible citizenship.
Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, stated this at 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).
Mallam Issa-Onilu explained that 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 stated 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, pointed out 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, Mr. Lanre Yusuf, assured Nigerians of the safety of their data, disclosing that over 128 million citizens have been captured under the National Identification Number system, and reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to a secured and inclusive digital identity management.
Reporting By Abiola PETERS