IIM to certify data protection professionals in Nigeria
James Thorpe
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The Institute of Information Management (IIM) in Nigeria has been granted a licence to conduct examinations and certify data protection professionals for global competitiveness.
The licensing – which was granted by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) – is part of the latter’s measures to implement Executive Order 003 and 005.
National certification process
According to a statement, the certification of data protection professionals in the country would reduce capital flight whilst creating over 500,000 jobs in the sector.
Having an institute to train and certify within Nigeria would also boost local content in the sector.
“We are trying to ensure the implementation of Executive Orders 003 and 005 to promote local content in Nigeria,” said Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner, NDPC.
“Most of us who are certified data protection officers have international certifications; we paid some dollars to write exams as well as maintain the certificates.
“We are trying to domesticate this in Nigeria by having a national certification process”
“Creating jobs for our people”
Dr. Olatunji said that – given the size of Nigeria’s population – the country needs over 500,000 certified data protection officers.
He explained that the commission is considering adopting the licensing across Africa, creating what would become a pan-African initiative.
“It is a way of creating jobs for our people, reducing capital flight and developing global human capital in the data protection ecosystem” Olatunji commented.
