Expert Set to Lead Nigeria’ National Data Transformation

Following the declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that “data is Nigeria’s new oil,” signaling a national shift toward a digital and data-driven economy, a technology expert, Dr. Adetokunbo Ajibola has stressed the need for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to collaborate in building a unified national data strategy.

According to him, he is ready to enhance such collaboration that will turn the vision into reality.

“As the Nigerian government formalises the role data in national development, I am ready to collaborate with ministries, departments, and agencies to build a unified national data strategy — one that unlocks innovation across financial services, oil and gas, healthcare, agriculture, and telecommunications. Data is more than a byproduct of operations. It is a strategic asset. With proper governance, Nigeria can lead Africa in building a data-driven public sector — underpinned by a private sector defined by trust, transparency, and transformation,” Ajibola said in a statement.

Ajibola, who is an expert in enterprise data governance and quality, has over 20 years of experience spanning the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Beyond his technical prowess, he holds the position of ECOWAS Council Ambassador, where he advocates for innovation, excellence, and inclusivity through data empowerment.

His most profound impact lies in his mission to equip Africans, especially Nigerians in the diaspora, with the skills needed to thrive in the global data economy. Through his consultancy with Berkeley Data Strategists, Ajibola has mentored and trained nearly 5,000 professionals in data governance, metadata management, data quality, and analytics, helping them launch successful international careers.

One of his landmark contributions was the building of First Bank Nigeria’s Data Governance and Data Quality teams. By delivering internationally recognised Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) programme, Ajibola ensured the bank’s data capabilities aligned with global standards, thus empowering the organisation to manage and deliver trusted data at scale.