Meta and NDPC Launch Nationwide Privacy Education Campaign in Nigeria

Key Information:

• Companies Involved: Meta Platforms Inc. and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
• Announcement: Launch of a nationwide privacy education campaign in Nigeria.
• Affected Parties: Facebook and Instagram users in Nigeria, including creators and businesses.
• Effective Date: Commencing February 2026 for a duration of six weeks.
• Industry Impact: Aims to enlighten over 60 million Nigerians on data privacy rights and Meta’s security tools following recent regulatory settlements.

Meta, in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has initiated a nationwide privacy education campaign. The six-week programme is designed to raise awareness of privacy controls and data protection rights among Nigerian users on Facebook and Instagram.

The campaign arrives as Nigeria continues to fortify its digital economy framework under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA). According to Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the NDPC, the initiative serves as a milestone in educating an estimated 60 million Nigerians about their online privacy rights.

Key Campaign Features and Tools

The educational content will be delivered in English and several local languages to ensure broad accessibility. Meta will encourage users to utilise existing security features, including:

• Privacy Checkup: A guided tool to review who can see posts and profile information.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): An additional security layer for account logins.
• End-to-End Encryption: Enhanced security for private communications.
• Login Alerts: Notifications for unrecognised login attempts.

Strategic Context: Corporate Profiles

Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Since 2019, the company reports it has invested over $8 billion globally in its privacy programme. In Nigeria, the company has recently moved toward greater regulatory alignment following discussions regarding data processing practices and compliance with the NDPA.

Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)
Established under the NDPA 2023, the NDPC is the primary regulatory body responsible for safeguarding data privacy and promoting responsible data handling in Nigeria. Its mission is to make data privacy a cornerstone of a sustainable digital economy, which it estimates contributed significantly to the national economy in recent years.

Industry and Creator Impact
For creators and businesses operating on Meta’s platforms, the campaign underscores a shift toward more transparent data management. Sade Dada, Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, stated that the campaign is an "important step toward educating users" to ensure they can confidently make privacy decisions.

The initiative follows a period of increased regulatory scrutiny in Nigeria, where the NDPC has concluded over 240 investigations into data breaches across various sectors. This partnership represents a collaborative approach to resolving long-standing digital governance challenges in the region.