The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has announced plans to launch regulatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) sandboxes to enhance data protection while supporting cross-border technological innovation. This initiative, developed in collaboration with private sector ICT firms, was unveiled at a one-day workshop in Abuja, themed “Co-Creation Lab on Africa Sandboxes for AI.”
During the event, stakeholders also reviewed the African Sandbox Outlook report, which explores the potential of regulatory sandboxes as safe spaces for testing AI technologies across the continent. These controlled environments are intended to foster data-driven innovation while safeguarding privacy and aligning with legal frameworks.
Highlighting the strategic intent of the initiative, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, underscored the importance of adaptive regulation in the face of rapidly evolving AI technologies. In a speech delivered on his behalf by Ms Adaobi Nwankwo, Head of the Commission’s Innovation Unit, he stated:
“Sandboxes aim to encourage responsible AI, foster compliance with the NDPA, and promote trust, fairness, accountability, and transparency.
The goal is to create a competitive environment for AI developers and data scientists while addressing Africa’s unique challenges.”
Dr Olatunji further explained that for these sandboxes to be effective, they must operate within existing legal and regulatory structures, ensuring real-world applicability and integrity in testing AI solutions.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), highlighted the dual promise and risk of AI integration. Represented by Mr Babagana Digima, Deputy Director of New Media and Information Security at NCC, he affirmed the agency’s support for regulatory sandboxes as instrumental in crafting informed policy responses.
“Sandboxes provide a controlled environment for innovators to test AI under regulatory supervision.
This encourages collaborative learning, risk mitigation, and evidence-based policymaking. We’re aligning this with the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, the Digital Economy Policy, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act.”
The workshop also spotlighted calls from industry leaders for harmonised data protection regulations across Africa. Dr Jimson Olufuye, Principal Consultant at Kontemporary Konsulting, argued that regional consistency is essential to unlock the full potential of AI and data-driven products.
“We need to optimise data protection processes and scale products across West Africa.
There’s a need for sandboxes that support cross-border interoperability and AI systems embedded with robust governance structures,” he said.
He cautioned that divergent data regulations among African countries could impede innovation unless unified under a collaborative framework.
Adding to this, Ms Morine Amutorine, Africa Lead for the Datasphere Initiative, noted that regulatory sandboxes can be adopted by countries irrespective of their regulatory advancement. She stressed that such frameworks allow stakeholders to evaluate the societal and regulatory impacts of AI tools and determine necessary legal reforms.
The African Sandbox Outlook report, which was also presented during the workshop, affirmed the growing recognition of sandboxes as essential for experimenting with AI governance models. It concluded that these test environments are key to addressing the continent’s data challenges, driving innovation, and maximising the benefits of data economies.
