By 
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, has been nominated for the prestigious Giovanni Buttarelli Award 2024. This award, presented by the Global Privacy Assembly, recognizes individuals for their exceptional leadership and efforts in fostering international collaboration in the field of data privacy and protection.
RELATED: “Everything (life, machine, environment) now derives its vitality from data” – Vincent Olatunji
Olatunji’s nomination underscores his commitment to driving innovation, expanding global partnerships, and promoting a collaborative approach within the data privacy ecosystem. Under his visionary leadership, Nigeria’s data privacy landscape has achieved remarkable growth, with significant milestones such as:
- Enhancing data protection and privacy knowledge in both public and private sectors.
- Achieving judicial recognition of the adequacy principle in cross-border data transfers.
- Playing key roles in regional and global data privacy initiatives.
- Commencing bilateral cooperation with other jurisdictions.
- Licensing data protection compliance organizations.
- Initiating a national data protection certification process.
Olatunji’s strategic and innovative initiatives have been instrumental in forging strong international partnerships, driving sustainable growth, and fostering a culture of collaboration. These efforts have not only elevated the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) but also set a benchmark for international cooperation and industry standards.
The Giovanni Buttarelli Award celebrates leaders who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and promoted collaboration at regional or international levels in data privacy and protection. Nominees are evaluated based on their contributions to projects that have led to the development of innovative concepts or practices, significantly impacting the international data protection and privacy community, and enhancing global cooperation and development.
Olatunji, honoured as one of Nigeria’s Top 50 Digital Economy Personalities by IT Edge News.Africa, expressed his gratitude and emphasized the importance of collective effort in achieving global progress.
“I am deeply honored to be nominated for the Giovanni Buttarelli Award 2024.This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team at NDPC. It underscores the power of collaboration and the remarkable outcomes we can achieve when we work together across borders. I am excited to continue our journey, driving innovation and fostering partnerships that make a positive impact globally,” said Olatunji.
