By The National Commissioner of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has assured Nigerians that the Commission has the capacity to create about 500,000 jobs and create additional income for the citizen.
Olatunji told journalist in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria in a training organised by the NDPC for members of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) that data protection management is the next gold mine waiting for Nigerians saying that there are jobs for even those who have retired from active services not minding their sphere of study.
Upon assuming office President Bola Tinubu signed into law the Data Protection Act 2023, which gave backing to the NDPC which has now created avenue for job opportunities in the countries.
According to Olatunji, the business of the data protection is a global business that beckons to all noting that the NDPC is in need of Data Protection Offices for it to do its job, and that in the interim it needs to fill a gap of of 180,000 DPO.
He added that the NPDC also needs organisation that will train DPOs for them to be certified and qualified to do the job of a DPO saying that there is also the quest for Data Protection Compliance Organsation (DPCO).
Olatunji while lamenting the shortage of skills in the Data Protection business urged journalist to take up a career along side journalism as DPO stating that what they need is just to get trained by a DPCO and get certified.
He noted that whatever certification issued by the NPDC is not just only but but can be applied outside Nigeria disclosing that Data Protection experts in Africa are already pushing for regulations that will protect African data subjects.
The NPDC boss revealed that the Commission’s portal would soon be opened for DPO and DCPOs to register and called on the media to assistance its advocacy project designed to create awareness about the job opportunities in Data Protection as well as for Nigerians to be familiar with their rights about the protection of their sensitive personal data
