Data Saturday Lagos 2026

About

Nigeria's Free, Open Data Community Day

Data Saturday Lagos is a free, community-focused knowledge event organised by DM & AI Thinklab Ltd. as a public contribution to Nigeria's growing data ecosystem.

Held the day after the Data Management Thinklab Workshop, it is open to every professional — regardless of sector, experience level, or organisational size.

"We believe every Nigerian professional — in a bank, a market stall, a government ministry, or a startup — deserves access to the data education that can transform how they work. Data Saturday is how we act on that belief."

The format combines keynote talks, practitioner panels, lightning sessions, open Q&A, live demonstrations, and structured networking. Every session is designed to be accessible without prior technical knowledge, while delivering sufficient depth to be genuinely valuable to experienced practitioners.

👥 Who Should Come

Everyone is Welcome. No Exceptions.
No prerequisites, no dress code — just a shared interest in data.

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Individual Professionals

Data analysts, IT professionals, compliance officers, finance managers

👥

Corporate Teams

Cross-functional groups sharing a learning experience together

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Students & Early-Career

University students in data, computer science, business, and related fields

⚖️

Compliance & Legal Professionals

Those navigating NDPA obligations and building data governance policies

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SME Owners & Entrepreneurs

Business owners wanting practical guidance on using data effectively

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Public Sector Professionals

Government workers, MDA staff, and public sector leaders

Note for Corporate Organisations: No limit on team size. We actively encourage corporate teams to attend together — the shared learning experience accelerates internal alignment.

Full Programme

Data Saturday Lagos — 29 August 2026

A full day of free, open sessions across three thematic tracks. No registration required on the day — simply arrive, sign in, and join the session of your choice.

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08:30 — 09:00 — Arrival, Sign-In & Morning Refreshments

09:00 — 09:30

Welcome to Data Saturday Lagos 2026

Welcome address, overview of the day's programme, and a brief scene-setting on the state of data management in Nigeria in 2026.

DM & AI Thinklab Ltd. Leadership Opening Plenary

09:30 — 10:15

Data Governance in Nigeria: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage

Nigeria's data governance journey has too often been driven by regulatory pressure rather than strategic intent. This keynote argues that the organisations winning in Nigeria's digital economy are those that have moved from reactive compliance to proactive governance.

Keynote Speaker — Senior Data Leader (TBC) Keynote Session

10:15 — 11:00

Track A: The NDPA in Plain English

A practical, jargon-free walkthrough of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 — designed for business owners, managers, and professionals who need to understand their obligations without a law degree.

DM & AI Thinklab Advisory Team Track A • Foundations

10:15 — 11:00

Track B: Data Strategy on a Shoestring

A live demonstration of the free and low-cost data management tools available to Nigerian SMEs in 2026 — from Wave Accounting and Bumpa to Google Looker Studio and WhatsApp Business.

DM & AI Thinklab Advisory Team Track B • Practice

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11:00 — 11:20 — Morning Break & Networking

11:20 — 12:15

AI in Nigerian Business: Opportunity, Risk & the Data Foundation You Need First

Three practitioners from financial services, technology, and the public sector discuss their experience deploying AI in Nigerian organisational contexts — what worked, what failed, and what data governance lessons they wish they had applied before they started.

Moderated Panel — 3 Practitioners (TBC) Panel Discussion

12:15 — 12:35

Five Data Governance Mistakes Nigerian Organisations Make (and How to Fix Them)

A fast-paced, high-impact session drawing on DM & AI Thinklab's advisory experience across Nigerian organisations. Practical, honest, and immediately actionable.

DM & AI Thinklab Consultant Lightning Session — 10 Minutes

12:35 — 12:50

How to Read a Data Governance Maturity Model

A concise walkthrough of the five-level data governance maturity model used by DM & AI Thinklab. Participants will be able to self-assess their organisation's approximate level in real time.

DM & AI Thinklab Advisory Team Lightning Session — 10 Minutes

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12:50 — 13:40 — Lunch Break & Community Networking

13:40 — 14:25

Master Data Management in Practice: Lessons from Nigerian Financial Services

A practitioner keynote exploring how Nigeria's financial institutions have approached master data management — the challenges of fragmented customer records, the CBN reporting implications, and the journey toward a single source of truth.

Guest Speaker — Senior MDM/Data Leader, Financial Services (TBC) Afternoon Keynote

14:25 — 15:10

Track A: Building a Data Governance Framework from Scratch

A practical, structured walkthrough of how to design a data governance framework — from appointing data owners and defining policies to implementing a data quality programme and reporting to leadership. Real templates shared with all attendees.

DM & AI Thinklab Senior Advisor Track A • Governance Deep Dive

14:25 — 15:10

Track B: Responsible AI in Nigeria

As AI tools proliferate across Nigerian organisations, the governance questions multiply. This session answers the questions Nigerian leaders are beginning to ask — before they become crises.

DM & AI Thinklab Advisory Team Track B • Emerging Topics

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15:10 — 15:30 — Afternoon Break & Networking

15:30 — 16:15

Ask the Experts: Your Data Questions Answered Live

An open, facilitated Q&A session with DM & AI Thinklab's advisory faculty. Participants submit questions in advance or on the day. No question is too basic or too advanced.

DM & AI Thinklab Faculty Panel Open Forum

16:15 — 17:00

Closing Address, Community Commitments & Networking

Closing remarks and key takeaways from the day. Each attendee is invited to make one public data commitment for their organisation. Introduction to the DM & AI Thinklab community and upcoming programmes. Open networking until 17:00.

DM & AI Thinklab Ltd. Leadership Closing Session

Topics Covered

What You Will Learn

Data Saturday Lagos covers the full breadth of practical data management and governance topics relevant to Nigerian professionals in 2026.

Data Governance Fundamentals & NDPA Compliance

The five pillars of data governance explained
What the NDPA requires: lawful basis, data subject rights, security
The role of the Data Protection Officer
How to draft a privacy notice that satisfies NDPA
Top five compliance mistakes and how to avoid them

Data Strategy for Organisations of Every Size

What a data strategy is and why your organisation needs one
The four pillars: collection, organisation, protection, and use
Three-phase implementation roadmap for Nigerian organisations
Free and low-cost tools to get started
How to build your first data dashboard without a data team

AI Readiness & Responsible AI Governance

Why AI is only as good as the data it runs on
Data quality requirements for machine learning
Bias in AI: how it happens and how governance prevents it
Ethical frameworks for AI in the Nigerian context
What the NDPA says about automated decision-making

Master Data Management & Data Quality

The six dimensions of data quality
Why duplicate customer records cost Nigerian banks billions
Master data management: what it is and how to implement it
Building a data quality monitoring programme
How to assign data ownership and make it stick

Participant Information

Everything You Need to Know

📋 Event Details

Event Name	Data Saturday Lagos 2026
Date	Saturday, 29 August 2026
Time	09:00 — 17:00 (Sign-in from 08:30)
Venue	Lagos, Nigeria (Venue TBC)
Registration Fee	FREE — No booking required
Who Can Attend	Open to all — individuals, teams, students, public
Language	English
Meals	Morning refreshments, lunch, and afternoon break included
Certificate	DM & AI Thinklab Certificate of Attendance on request
Dress Code	Smart casual
Organiser	DM & AI Thinklab Ltd.

🎒 What to Bring

Come ready to engage. Data Saturday is a hands-on, participatory community event.

A notebook or laptop for note-taking and session exercises
Your organisation's data questions — the Open Forum is your opportunity to get expert answers
Business cards or your LinkedIn QR code for networking during breaks
An open mind — sessions are designed to challenge assumptions as much as deliver knowledge
Colleagues from your organisation — learning together accelerates implementation

🏢 For Corporate Organisations

Data Saturday presents a unique opportunity for Nigerian organisations to invest in their teams' data literacy at zero cost.

Benefits for Teams

✓ Shared data vocabulary
✓ Common understanding of NDPA
✓ Aligned governance priorities

Suggested Team Composition

✓ CDO / Technology Leader
✓ Data / IT Manager
✓ Compliance or Legal Officer

🎉 THIS EVENT IS COMPLETELY FREE 🎉