Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to playing a more active role in shaping global data governance, as the Director General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Tegbe, represented the country at the inaugural World Data Organisation Assembly in Beijing.

The high-level event gathered more than 500 participants, including top government officials, representatives of multilateral organisations, and digital technology experts, with discussions focused on strengthening global cooperation in data governance and advancing the digital economy.

Tegbe, who attended alongside NCSP’s Head of International Relations, Judy Melifonwu, highlighted Nigeria’s growing involvement in international digital partnerships, especially within its strategic bilateral relationship with China.

His participation underscores Nigeria’s efforts to position itself as a key stakeholder in developing international standards on data access, usage, and security in an increasingly digital global economy.

The assembly also featured a keynote address by Ding Xuexiang, who spoke on behalf of Xi Jinping, calling for stronger international collaboration to maximise the value of data while ensuring security, inclusiveness, and trust in digital systems.

Nigeria’s engagement at the assembly is expected to open new opportunities for participation in global policy discussions on data governance and cross-border data flows, while creating avenues for investment, innovation, and knowledge exchange in the digital economy.

Speaking on the significance of the new organisation, Tegbe said the creation of the WDO marks a major step forward in global digital cooperation, noting that Nigeria is focused on aligning its strategic interests with emerging opportunities in data and technology.