Massive skills gap threatens Nigeria’s data privacy push

…480,000 DPOs needed to bridge gap- NDPC

Nigeria is facing a shortage of about 480,000 data protection professionals, highlighting a major skills gap as the country’s digital economy expands rapidly, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) said on Monday.

Vincent Olatunji, the national commissioner, said the gap persists despite steady growth in the number of trained professionals over the past three years.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening of a training programme for a new batch of Data Protection Officers (DPOs), Olatunji said Nigeria has identified more than 500,000 data controllers and processors that require certified data protection experts.

“At the moment, we have about 10,000 certified DPOs to work in that space. The gap of about 480,000 still exists,” he said.

The shortfall reflects rising demand for data privacy skills as more businesses, government agencies and digital platforms process personal data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

Olatunji said the number of certified DPOs has grown from fewer than 1,000 three years ago to over 10,000, while more than 27,000 professionals now operate within Nigeria’s wider data protection ecosystem.

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He said the commission is scaling up training and certification efforts to close the gap and position Nigeria as a leading source of data protection talent in Africa.

“Our goal is to make Nigeria the go-to country when it comes to sourcing qualified data protection officers in Africa,” he said, adding that the certification meets global standards.

The NDPC said expanding the talent pool could also support job creation and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Tolu Fadipe, head of research and development at the commission, said data protection is becoming critical as the country moves deeper into digital systems and emerging technologies.

“As we move towards a digital economy, data becomes central and protecting that data is essential,” she said.

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Lead trainer Adeola Sopade said participants in the programme would be trained on global best practices, including data protection principles, compliance requirements and handling user data requests.

The training also includes practical exposure and internships with organisations to improve job readiness.

Participants said the programme offers opportunities for young Nigerians to build careers in technology and prepare for emerging fields such as artificial intelligence.

Analysts say the widening gap underscores both a risk and an opportunity: weak data protection could slow digital growth, but strong investment in skills could turn Nigeria into a regional hub for privacy and cybersecurity talent.