Nigeria: IIM Receives NDPC Licence to Certify Data Protection Professionals in Nigeria

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has granted a licence to the Institute of Information Management (IIM) to conduct examinations and certify data protection professionals, enhancing their global competitiveness.

Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, announced this development on Monday while presenting the licence to IIM in Abuja. He stated that this initiative aligns with the commission’s efforts to implement Executive Orders 003 and 005.

Olatunji highlighted that certifying data protection professionals within Nigeria would significantly reduce capital flight, create over 500,000 jobs in the sector, and encourage more individuals to pursue certification.

Olatunji emphasized the importance of promoting local content, noting that while some Nigerians had previously obtained their data protection training and certification abroad, establishing a local institute would bolster domestic expertise in the field.

“We aim to ensure the implementation of Executive Orders 003 and 005 to promote local content in Nigeria. Many of us certified data protection officers have international certifications, for which we paid significant amounts in dollars to take exams and maintain certificates. By domesticating this process in Nigeria, we can establish a national certification