Daniel UGWO

 

In a bold and proactive bid to fortify Nigeria's data landscape against the rising tide of cyber threats and bridge of privacy protection, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is concluding an intensive training leading to the certification of the second edition of Data Protection Officers (DPOs) in Nigeria. The training which commenced from April 13 has since then recorded weekly batches even till May 8. Three training centres comprising: e-Government Training Centre (PSIN) Abuja, T & Y Information Management Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos and the University of Lagos has been the major hub for the training.

 

It was realized at the T & Y centre that the training was fundamentally designed to arm professionals with the necessary foundational rudiments of data privacy and practical security measures required to safeguard the rights of data subjects across the federation.

 

It is no longer a hidden fact that data has transformed into an incredibly valuable resource for the entire global community in today’s internet era. However, with this massive digital value comes severe vulnerability due to widespread daily breaches of sensitive data. Speaking against the backdrop of recent devastating cyberattacks on critical national digital assets—most notably the unfortunate breach at the Nigeria Federal Housing Authority—stakeholders at the gathering agreed that the timing of the programme was incredibly appropriate. The general consensus was that the deed is not yet done, as many more cyberattacks are still on the way, making digital safety a matter of national urgency.

 

While delivering their welcome addresses to flag off the event, Elder Tokunbo Smith and Mrs. Oluwabusayomi Oludotun stressed the unwavering commitment of the Commission towards entrenching a culture of digital safety. They noted that as the number of organizations processing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) continues to soar, the need for these entities to strictly ensure the safety and privacy of such data becomes non-negotiable.

 

The training drew a massive and diverse turnout of delegates from various public institutions, including candidate that scaled through from the earlier DPO training by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), Lagos State civil service departments such as LAWMA, LAMATA, and the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission,  Federal Polytechnic Ede Osun State, the Ondo State Judiciary, alongside the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Autochek Africa, and several other public and private establishments.

 

During the robust technical sessions, a team of five seasoned facilitators, which included Dr. Taiwo Oyeleye, Mr. Wale Jacobs, Dr. Jimoh Odunayo, and Dr. Akangbe, meticulously took the trainees through all the modules in the comprehensive NDPC Training Manual. Elder Tokunbo Smith and Dr. Jimoh Odunayo further enriched the curriculum by introducing three additional courses, where emphasis was heavily placed on the indispensable role of having good communication skills in report writing for modern DPOs.

 

Following in-depth presentations and robust discussions, the class, led by Azeez Owolabi Sulaimon - the Class Governor, observed that the training was highly practical, interactive, and deeply impactful. However, a major bottleneck identified during the sessions was the unwarranted interference of politically influential MDA account officers, who would frequently prevent DPOs from executing their major roles without fear or favour.

 

To tweak this nagging issue in the shoot and establish robust institutional frameworks, the communiqué issued at the end of the programme strongly recommended the immediate creation of a dedicated DPO cadre within government institutions to ensure proper career growth.

Furthermore, the participants called for the introduction of advanced technology for compliance reporting, more advanced and refresher courses, and proactive measures against government institutions handling large data.

 

Meanwhile, following the rigorous training exercise, the participants have now transitioned to the assessment phase to officially earn the prestigious Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO) professional title. The first batch of these highly anticipated certification examinations successfully took place between May 25 and May 26, 2026, while the final batch of candidates is set to sit for their own papers later next week. The Institute of Information Management which is “The International Certification Body for Data and Information Management, also National Certification Body for Data Protection in Nigeria (Licensed by the NDPC)” is responsible for the examination and certification.

 

Ultimately, the NDPC has once again proven its total dedication to strengthening Nigeria's data protection ecosystem and aligning it with global best practices. By actively insisting on strict compliance with the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 and GAID, 2025, the Commission is well on its way to ensuring that the personal data of every Nigerian remains securely protected. Subsequent training is expected to spread across Nigeria as time passes.