Optasia pushes privacy-by-design as Nigeria enforces data protection in AI-driven finance

As Nigeria moves to enforce its data protection regime across fast-growing digital and artificial intelligence-driven financial services, global fintech platform Optasia has called for privacy-by-design to become a non-negotiable standard for innovation in the sector.

The company made the case at Nigeria’s National Privacy Week 2026, where it served as Platinum Sponsor of the National Data Privacy Summit held at the Transcorp Centre, Abuja. The summit was convened in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), the country’s primary legal framework governing the collection, processing and use of personal data.

With AI increasingly deployed in credit scoring, lending and digital financial inclusion, regulators say stronger data governance is critical to sustaining trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner and chief executive officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said privacy is not an isolated privilege; it is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.

“By building trust, we unlock the full potential of our digital economy and protect every Nigerian’s digital identity,” Olatunji added.

Optasia, which delivers AI-powered financial services through licensed financial institutions and regulated distribution partners, said its operating model is designed to align innovation with regulatory compliance. The company operates exclusively within licensed ecosystems and embeds data protection, accountability and security into its technology stack.

Uchenna Agbo, Optasia’s chief commercial officer, said the pace of digital growth in Nigeria demands stronger safeguards around consumer data.

“As Nigeria’s digital economy expands, the data that powers innovation and inclusion must be protected with the same seriousness as financial capital. For Optasia, compliance, ethical data use and respect for consumer privacy are foundational to building long-term confidence in AI-driven finance,” Agbo said.

Optasia executives also participated in high-level panel discussions focused on the governance of emerging technologies.

Antoine Chatzistamatiou, chief technology and innovation officer, contributed to a session on “Building trust by design: Privacy, ethics, and accountability in emerging technologies,” alongside a senior representative from GTBank.

In a separate panel titled “Innovation without Intrusion: Balancing data-driven growth with privacy as a fundamental right,” Stelios Lelis, Optasia’s chief data and risk officer, shared insights with senior executives from Microsoft and Stanbic IBTC.

The company said its Nigeria strategy 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.

Its SOC 2 Type II certification, Optasia added, reflects adherence to internationally recognised standards for security, confidentiality and privacy.

Industry analysts say Nigeria’s enforcement of the NDPA is likely to reshape how fintechs design products, deploy AI and manage customer data, particularly as digital lending and automated credit decisioning expand.

Founded in 2012, Optasia operates in 38 countries, processing over 32 million transactions daily for more than 120 million active users through partnerships with mobile network operators and financial institutions. The company has been listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange since November 2025.

As regulators tighten oversight of data use in AI-driven finance, Optasia said innovation in financial services must be built on trust, transparency and privacy by design.