FG to Train 5,000 Youths as Data Protection Professionals
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has finalized plans to train 5,000 Nigerian youths as data protection professionals, a move aimed at job creation as part of ongoing national efforts to empower young people.
Recently, the Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to solidify this initiative.
During the MoU signing ceremony, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Engr. Ayodele Olawande, expressed optimism about the job and wealth creation opportunities that the NDPC initiative will generate for Nigerian youth.
“No less than 80% of human capital development under the present administration is targeted at youths, and this initiative is aimed at equipping 5,000 youths with the requisite technical skills for new jobs in the data protection ecosystem,” the Minister said.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, highlighted the significance of the training program. According to him, there are currently over 500,000 data controllers in Nigeria, each required to have at least one data protection officer.This creates vast employment opportunities for Nigerian youths in the data protection field.
Olatunji emphasized the importance of a robust data protection framework in positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment.
Read Also:
He noted that investors would be more willing to engage with Nigeria if the country demonstrates accountability and reliability in protecting data assets.
To ensure that Nigerians receive top-tier training, the NDPC has licensed the Institute of Information Management (IIM) to conduct examinations and certify data protection professionals locally.
This move will help build local expertise while reducing the foreign exchange burden associated with obtaining international certifications.
“We are making sure that the certification will not be a burden on our foreign exchange, and the in-country certification body will issue globally recognized certificates to eligible trainees,” Olatunji noted.
The NDPC’s 2023 annual report revealed significant growth in Nigeria’s data protection sector. A total of 10,123 jobs were created in 2023, marking a 5.7% increase from the 9,577 jobs created in 2022. Compliance revenue also saw a notable rise, reaching N325 million, compared to N94.4 billion in the previous year.
Additionally, the number of verified Data Protection Officers in Nigeria increased from 1,928 in 2022 to 1,955 in 2023, while investigations into data protection issues rose from 117 to 177 within the same period.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Youth Development and the NDPC is expected to further drive job creation and skills development, positioning Nigerian youths at the forefront of the growing data protection industry.
