In a sweeping move to strengthen the security of Nigeria’s national identity database, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has commenced the training and certification of more than 4,000 staff members nationwide as Data Protection Officers (DPOs), in what officials describe as a major step towards safeguarding the personal information of over 120 million Nigerians enrolled in the National Identity Number (NIN) system.
The initiative, being implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), comes amid growing concerns globally over data breaches, cyber threats and the misuse of personal information.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Abuja on Thursday, NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the programme underscores the commission’s determination to strengthen public confidence in the country’s identity management system by ensuring that citizens’ data are protected in line with international standards.
According to her, NIMC is the custodian of one of the nation’s most strategic assets—the personal information of millions of Nigerians and legal residents—making data protection a critical national responsibility.
She explained that the training would equip staff with advanced knowledge of data privacy, governance, cybersecurity, breach prevention and incident response, while fostering a culture of accountability across the commission.
“Today marks another significant milestone in our collective commitment to strengthening trust, accountability and professionalism in Nigeria’s identity management ecosystem,” she said.
Coker-Odusote noted that the programme would also be extended to vendors and strategic partners within the identity ecosystem to ensure comprehensive protection of citizens’ information throughout the data value chain.
The NIMC boss said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s drive towards building a secure digital economy and protecting the rights of citizens in an increasingly technology-driven society.
She further assured Nigerians that the commission is taking deliberate measures to guarantee that personal information entrusted to it remains secure and is handled in accordance with the law.
On his part, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, described the exercise as unprecedented within the country’s data protection ecosystem.
He disclosed that NIMC is the first public institution to undertake the certification of its entire workforce as Data Protection Officers, describing the move as a model for other government agencies.
Olatunji noted that the data protection sector has emerged as a significant source of employment, generating more than 27,000 jobs within the last three years, while creating fresh opportunities for trained professionals.
He commended the NIMC leadership for what he described as a visionary approach to data governance, stressing that the collaboration between both agencies would strengthen the security architecture around Nigeria’s national identity infrastructure.
The development is expected to boost confidence in the NIN database, which serves as the backbone of several government services, financial inclusion programmes, security operations and digital transactions across the country.
With over 120 million records already captured and millions more expected to be enrolled, experts say the success of Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda will depend largely on the ability of institutions to protect citizens’ data from abuse, unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Michael Olugbode
