Data protection regulators, policymakers, technology companies, privacy professionals, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders from across Africa are expected to converge in Lagos from November 3 to 6 for the Data Protection Africa Summit (DPAS) 2026 and the PICCASO Awards Africa, with organisers seeking stronger partnerships to advance data protection and privacy across the continent.
The four-day Summit will take place at the Lagos Continental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, under the theme, “Strengthening Data Protection Through Strategic Partnerships.” It is being organised by the Africa Digital Rights Hub (ADRH) in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
According to the organisers, the Summit is designed to provide a platform for data controllers and processors, technology companies, policymakers, regulators, innovators, business communities, and other stakeholders to examine emerging data protection and privacy challenges in Africa and develop practical solutions.
The programme will begin on November 3 with masterclasses, followed by the main conference on November 4. The PICCASO Awards Africa ceremony is scheduled for November 5, while November 6 has been designated for a host-country tour.
The organisers said the Summit is intended to build capacity, facilitate collaboration, showcase expertise, and explore key challenges confronting data protection and privacy regimes across Africa.
Among its expected outcomes are contributions to the development of national and regional data protection frameworks, enhanced industry capacity for compliance, identification of issues for advocacy, increased cooperation among African regulators and policymakers and their international counterparts, and the creation of opportunities for strategic partnerships. The Summit will also showcase tools designed to support data protection compliance.
The Summit is expected to address a range of issues at the intersection of privacy, technology, cybersecurity, and economic development.
The published programme identifies, among other topics, better data protection outcomes through practical collaborative governance, protection of critical public infrastructure in the digital age, and approaches to cybersecurity, privacy, and national resilience.
It will also examine data protection in digital finance, including mobile money, open finance, and digital lending, as well as the protection of children’s attention and digital wellbeing in the context of online safety and artificial intelligence (AI).
The focus on strategic partnerships reflects the growing importance of cooperation among regulators, governments, technology companies, businesses, civil society, and other actors as African countries strengthen their data protection regimes and respond to rapid technological developments.
A major feature of the programme will be the PICCASO Awards, which are being hosted for the second time in Africa by the Africa Digital Rights Hub, in partnership with PICCASO, and seek to recognise individuals, teams, and organisations making outstanding contributions to privacy, data protection, cybersecurity, data ethics, and compliance across Africa.
The organisers said the awards are intended not only to celebrate achievement but also to showcase African expertise, homegrown innovation, and leadership in data privacy and protection.
Applications were open to individuals, teams, and organisations based in Africa, with nominees expected to demonstrate achievements, innovation, impact, and contributions made during the preceding 12 months.
The judging process involves a panel of experts with experience in data protection, cybersecurity, and digital governance.
The 2026 awards will build on the inaugural PICCASO Awards Africa, held in 2025. The NDPC was among the recipients at the inaugural awards, having been recognised as the Outstanding Data Protection Authority (DPA) of the Year.
The Summit is expected to provide an opportunity for African stakeholders to exchange experiences on regulatory implementation, compliance, technological innovation, and emerging threats to privacy while exploring ways of making data protection an enabler of digital and socio-economic development.
The organisers have invited regulators, policymakers, technology companies, innovators, businesses, and other stakeholders to use the Summit as a platform for regional cooperation and collaboration.
