The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has called on players in the Nigerian advertising industry to prioritize data protection and privacy, warning that the sector remains largely non-compliant with existing regulations.
Dr Olatunji delivered the keynote address at a webinar organized by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) titled “Understanding Data Protection and Its Regulatory Framework: Applicability to the Nigerian Advertising Industry.” The Director-General of ARCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, delivered the welcome address.
In his presentation, Dr Olatunji traced the evolution of the advertising industry from traditional media platforms to the digital era, noting that data has now become a central driver of advertising decisions, especially with the growing adoption of artificial intelligence and other data-driven technologies.
He stressed that advertisers must put appropriate safeguards in place to protect personal data in their custody.
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Taking participants through key principles and obligations under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act), Dr Olatunji highlighted the rights of data subjects and the consequences of non-compliance.
Of particular concern, he noted that only 12.3 per cent of advertising agencies are currently compliant with data protection requirements. He therefore called for improved compliance across the industry and stronger collaboration between the NDPC and ARCON to deepen the culture of privacy and responsible data processing within the advertising sector.
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