Chidera Ezenwanne
Biography
Chidera Ezenwanne is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution, Energy, Arbitration, ICT and Data Protection unit of the firm. She is a distinguished and versatile lawyer specialising in disputes covering oil spill, customer–banker relationship, labour-related matters, fundamental rights and data related issues. With a track record of successfully navigating and being a part of landmark transactions and disputes, she has established herself as a key player in the firm's success.
Chidera is recognised for her distinctive combination of analytical rigour and deep sector insight, enabling her to deliver strategic advice where it matters most,at the point of high-stakes decision-making. She is a strategist and policy thinker with a proven track record of advising international organisations, multinational corporations, and governments on complex and consequential issues
Representative Experience
• Represents International Oil Companies (IOC) Government agencies, Telecommunications companies and financial institutions across various jurisdictions in Nigeria on different claims valued at billions of Naira.
• Advised a multinational telecommunications company on a license acquisition valued at tens of millions of USD, highlighting her proficiency in high-value transactions in the telecom sector.
• Advised an institution on a Power Purchase Agreement and a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment in the energy sector.
• Advised a foreign multinational on the propriety of the Nigeria Custom Service’s insistence on specific incoterms, reflecting her deep understanding of international trade laws.
• Conducts audits of several registered companies to ensure compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and other relevant regulations, underscoring her expertise in data protection
Education
LL.M University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
B. L, Nigerian Law School, Nigeria (Abuja Campus)
LL. B (Honours), University of Ibadan, Nigeria (First Class)
Bars
Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
Membership
- Member, Nigerian Bar Association
- Member, FinTechNGR
- Member, NBA, Section on Business Law
- Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCArb)
- Mediator, Lagos State Multi-Door Courthouse
- Member, Young ICCA
- Member, British Nigeria Law Forum (BNLF)
- Alumni, YALI RLC
Practice areas
related resources
Authored Publications
Data Processing Agreements Under The NDP Act 2023
In the modern digital economy, personal data has become a critical commercial asset. Organisations routinely rely on third parties to process personal data, increasing exposure to unlawful processing, data breaches, and regulatory sanctions when roles and safeguards
Practice Area/Sector Guideline & Outlook
The data protection and privacy landscape in Nigeria has evolved rapidly in recent years. With the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA) and the subsequent issuance of the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) 2025, organisations are now operating under a much stronger regulatory framework. In addition, Nigerians are becoming increasingly aware of their privacy rights and are willing to challenge how their personal data is handled. Furthermore, the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has demonstrated a readiness to wield the “big stick," as seen in high-profile actions against entities such as MultiChoice and Meta, resulting in significant fines for various breaches of their data protection obligations. In light of this, data controllers and processors can no longer afford to treat data as a mere box-ticking exercise. This Guide therefore provides readers with a bird’s-eye view of key issues and serves as a practical, hand-holding companion to Nigeria’s data privacy framework.
Data Protection Outlook 2026
Data protection is no longer a peripheral compliance activity but a core infrastructural component of Nigeria's digital economy. The year 2025 marked a turning point: with the release of the General Application and Implementation Directive 2025 and increasingly assertive supervisory actions, compliance transitioned from a mere obligation to an immediate and enforceable reality. As financial services, telecommunications, e-commerce, digital lending, and platform-based businesses continue to expand, the lawful processing of personal information has become inextricably linked to operational viability and market access. This forward-looking report examines the regulatory, judicial, legislative, and market developments that will shape compliance and enforcement over the next twelve months. It analyses the NDPC's shift from policy articulation to sustained enforcement, the rise of private litigation and judicial precedents, the operationalisation of international transfer mechanisms, and the convergence of data sovereignty, ESG, and AI governance as defining features of the 2026 landscape. Key milestones include the CAR filing deadline of March 31, 2026, the finalisation of joint supervisory frameworks with sector regulators, and the formal issuance of Standard Contractual Clauses for cross-border data flows. For businesses, the central message is clear: the era of tick-box compliance is over, and organisations that embed data protection across governance structures, product design, procurement, and risk management will be best positioned to protect value and earn trust.
