The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has introduced a National Certification Program for Nigerian Data Protection Officers (DPOs).

Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, unveiled this historic accomplishment on Monday.

The program highlights efforts to domesticate DPO certification in Nigeria and is in line with NDPC’s strategy roadmap for human capital development.

It also emphasises how Nigeria has taken the lead in advancing privacy and data protection in Africa and beyond.

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Employment prospects for young Nigerians 

Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner/CEO of the NDPC, underlined in his welcoming speech that the domestication process is an important step in opening up employment prospects for young Nigerians in the data security and privacy ecosystem as well as the larger digital economy. He pointed out that this project is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To join the worldwide network of certified DPOS, he encouraged members to take advantage of this chance.

In his speech, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, who described the training as a strategic investment in Nigerian youth, emphasised the critical importance of the training to the Federal Government, pointing out that data protection has become crucial in a world that is becoming more and more dependent on digital technologies, saying, “The more connected we are, the more vulnerable we are.”

Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of Youth Development, was present. The DG of NITDA, Dr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi; Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, MD/CEO of NIGCOMSAT; Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, DG/CEO of NLRC; and CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, Director, NPF NCCC, are among the other dignitaries present at the ceremony.