Nigeria has initiated a programme to train 500 Data Protection Officers (DPOs).
The National Certification Programme for Data Protection Officers, launched Monday by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), aims to address a critical skills gap in the country’s rapidly expanding digital sector. The programme comes as Nigeria’s digital economy currently contributes between 14 to 16 percent of the nation’s GDP, with plans to increase this to 21 percent in the coming years.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasised the programme’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria into a one-trillion-dollar economy. “We have a president taking bold decisions that may cause us some initial pains as a people, but will lead to a strong foundation for a future that will be inclusive and prosperous,” Tijani said at the launch event.
NDPC National Commissioner Dr. Vincent Olatunji revealed that a recent survey identified over 500,000 organisations requiring data protection officers, highlighting the significant employment potential in this field. “We came up with this idea of training and paying for the generation of data protection officers who will now be certified,” Olatunji explained, noting that the commission would fund the training to reduce the cost of certification for participants.
The programme will begin with an initial cohort of 200 participants split between Abuja and Lagos, followed by weekly training sessions for groups of 100 until all 500 selected participants complete the certification. The Institute of Information Management will administer the virtual certification examination.
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, represented by CP Uche Henry, stressed the urgency of the initiative, citing increasing cyber threats and data breaches in the digital ecosystem. “This has caused the urgent need for well-trained professionals who can effectively navigate the complexities of data protection and regulatory frameworks,” Henry stated.

The programme is part of NDPC’s 2025 capacity-building initiatives and aligns with its Nigeria Data Protection Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (2023-2027). It comes at a crucial time when the World Economic Forum projects significant job market changes due to emerging technologies, with potential for job losses and new opportunities in the digital sector.
Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, noted the programme’s potential to reduce unemployment and enhance economic growth, reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global digital economy.
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