Abuja: The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has collaborated with several private ICT firms to explore adaptive sandboxes aimed at supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration and enhancing data protection. This development was revealed during a one-day workshop on Co-Creation Lab on Africa Sandboxes for AI and the evaluation of African Sandbox Outlook report held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop, hosted by Kontemporary Konsulting in partnership with NDPC and Datasphere Initiative, aimed to explore how regulatory sandboxes could facilitate AI adoption and enable data-driven innovation across borders. Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of NDPC, emphasized the commission's current efforts to incorporate sandboxes in their data protection privacy mandate as stipulated by the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
Represented by Ms. Adaobi Nwankwo, Head of Innovation Unit, Olatunji highlighted that regulatory sandboxes would promote a safe and well-regulated environment for AI development. He noted that establishing a regulatory sandbox to test data-driven solutions would necessitate real-time regulatory frameworks.
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, acknowledged AI's transformative potential in reshaping the digital economy, enhancing service delivery, improving network optimization, and addressing complex socio-economic challenges. Represented by Mr. Babagana Digima, Deputy Director of New Media and Information Security, Maida noted the regulatory and ethical questions AI presents, including privacy and data protection.
Dr. Jimson Olufuye, Principal Consultant of Kontemporary Konsulting, stressed the need for cross-border data sharing and interoperability, advocating for the development of AI products like sandboxes to manage data protection processes better. Ms. Morine Amutorine, Datasphere Initiative Lead in Africa, further noted that sandboxes could operate effectively in countries with existing regulations, as well as those developing or lacking AI regulations.
The African Sandbox Outlook report highlighted the emergence of sandboxes as useful tools for testing regulatory and technical innovations to tackle challenges posed by data and AI. Sandboxes' potential is being explored in Africa to support data governance innovation and data value creation. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event followed the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) conference held by NDPC from May 6 to 8.