ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Data Protection Commission warns of a 480,000 shortfall in data protection officers amid rapid digital growth.
National Commissioner Vincent Olatunji says Nigeria has only about 10,000 certified DPOs compared to over 500,000 organisations requiring their services.
“We still have a gap of about 480,000,” he says.
The disclosure comes during a DPO certification training programme in Abuja.
Olatunji attributes the deficit to expanding digital services and increased data processing activities.
“Our goal is to make Nigeria a hub for data protection professionals in Africa,” he adds.
The commission says scaling up training will boost employment and strengthen data privacy compliance.
Experts stress that closing the gap is critical to safeguarding personal data and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy.
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