On Friday, Nigeria took a bold step to empower its young population by launching the Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training (YDPAT) program at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
This government-backed program aims to train over one million Nigerian youths, equipping them with knowledge and skills crucial for protecting personal data in an increasingly digital world.
Addressing youth on digital data security
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development, in partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has designed the YDPAT initiative to address growing concerns about identity theft, data breaches, and online fraud that disproportionately affect young Nigerians.
Minister Ayodele Olawande declared the initiative “a bold, necessary, and visionary journey to empower Nigerian youth in an increasingly digital world.”
He highlighted that while young people are among the most exposed to digital risks, their protection remains low. This training fills a significant skill gap, with fewer than 5,000 certified Data Protection Officers existing nationwide despite more than 500,000 data controllers legally requiring such officers.
The program features free classroom and virtual sessions covering the Data Protection Act, responses to data breaches, and monitoring compliance, aiming to raise awareness about digital rights and obligations.
“We see a tremendous opportunity for job creation for young, trained professionals,” Olawande stated, emphasising the program’s role in generating employment opportunities aligned with the government’s broader youth empowerment agenda.
Building a workforce to protect Nigeria’s digital rights
YDPAT’s design is interactive and youth-friendly, delivered through a dedicated online portal that supports training certification, ongoing resources, and engagement. This accessible approach ensures that the youth can actively participate and build competencies required in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
By training a large cadre of young data protection officers, Nigeria not only strengthens its defense against data exploitation but also positions young people at “the frontline of data protection,” reinforcing their role in shaping the nation’s digital safety.
The training initiative also reflects the administration’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create multiple jobs for young Nigerians and address the digital skills gap.
The minister noted, “Our country has only 5,000 certified Data Protection Officers; this gap represents a big opportunity for youth employment and national digital resilience.”
This landmark program is currently underway, with initial targets to train 5,000 youths by December 2025 and broader ambitions to reach one million participants. It marks a crucial governmental push toward protecting digital rights and fostering a data-conscious generation in Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital environment.