Optasia, a global AI-driven fintech platform, has reinforced its commitment to responsible innovation and privacy-by-design as the official Platinum Sponsor of Nigeria’s National Privacy Week 2026, signalling growing private-sector alignment with the country’s data protection and digital trust agenda.
The week-long programme, held at the Transcorp Centre in Abuja, brought together regulators, financial institutions, technology companies and policy stakeholders under the theme “Privacy in the Era of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics & Innovation”. Discussions focused on the implications of artificial intelligence, data-driven services and digital financial inclusion for consumer protection and national development.
Nigeria’s National Privacy Week culminated in the National Data Privacy Summit, which concluded on Wednesday, 4 February.
The event was convened in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, the country’s principal legal framework for safeguarding personal data and regulating its processing across public and private sectors.
Welcoming participants to the summit, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, underscored the central role of privacy in building public confidence and sustaining digital growth.
He described privacy as a constitutional right rather than a discretionary benefit, arguing that trust is the foundation upon which Nigeria’s digital economy must be built.
“Privacy is not an isolated privilege; it is a fundamental right guaranteed by our Constitution,” Olatunji said in a statement. “By building trust, we unlock the full potential of our digital economy and protect every Nigerian’s digital identity.”
These priorities closely align with Optasia’s operating philosophy. The company provides AI-powered financial solutions designed to expand access to digital services while embedding privacy, accountability and trust into its technology architecture and partner relationships.
Operating across multiple highly regulated markets, Optasia said it brings practical experience in integrating governance, accountability and data protection into large-scale digital systems. Its services are delivered exclusively through licensed financial institutions and regulated distribution partners; a model the company says supports responsible growth while maintaining high standards of security and consumer protection.
Optasia’s compliance posture is further reinforced by its SOC 2 Type II certification, which attests to internationally recognised standards for security, confidentiality and privacy controls. The company says this framework is critical as financial services increasingly rely on advanced analytics and automated decision-making.
Speaking during the event, the Chief Commercial Officer of Optasia, Uchenna Agbo, highlighted the heightened responsibility that accompanies rapid digital expansion in Nigeria.
She noted that as innovation accelerates, the protection of consumer data must receive the same level of seriousness as financial assets.
“As Nigeria’s digital economy expands, the data that powers innovation and inclusion must be protected with the same seriousness as financial capital,” Agbo said. “For Optasia, compliance, ethical data use and respect for consumer privacy are foundational to building long-term confidence across the digital ecosystem.”
Optasia’s executive leadership also participated in several high-level panel discussions during the summit. The Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Antoine Chatzistamatiou, shared insights during a session titled “Building trust by design: Privacy, ethics, and accountability in emerging technologies” alongside senior representatives from the banking sector, including GTBank.
In another session, “Innovation without Intrusion: Balancing data-driven growth with privacy as a fundamental right”, the Chief Data and Risk Officer of Optasia, Stelios Lelis, discussed the practical challenges of deploying data-intensive technologies while preserving user rights. The panel also featured senior executives from Microsoft and Stanbic IBTC.
According to Optasia, its engagement in Nigeria is anchored on four operating priorities: privacy-by-design, responsible use of artificial intelligence, innovation without intrusive data practices, and deeper collaboration across the licensed financial ecosystem. The company says these principles guide both its product development and its partnerships in the market.
As Nigeria continues to scale its digital infrastructure and adopt emerging technologies across finance, healthcare and public services, data governance has become a central policy concern. Regulators and industry leaders at the summit repeatedly emphasised the need for cooperation between government and the private sector to ensure that innovation does not outpace consumer protection.
Optasia said its participation in National Privacy Week reflects a long-term commitment to supporting a trusted and inclusive digital economy in Nigeria. With data-driven services expected to expand further across sectors, the company said it intends to remain actively engaged in policy and industry conversations around privacy, accountability and responsible innovation.
