The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has commenced the training and certification of over 4,000 NIMC staff members nationwide on data protection and privacy.
The initiative is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of strengthening Nigeria’s National Identity Database aimed at deepening the understanding of data privacy principles, strengthening compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
It also aims at enhancing data governance practices, and ensuring that every member of staff appreciates the critical role they play in protecting citizens’ personal information.
Speaking during a press conference at the NIMC headquarters in Abuja, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, described the programme as a significant milestone in the commission’s commitment to strengthening trust, accountability, and professionalism in identity management.
According to her, NIMC, as the custodian of Nigeria’s National Identity Database, manages one of the country’s most sensitive and strategic national assets and houses the personal data of millions of Nigerians and legal residents.
“This responsibility demands not only robust technology and secure systems but also a trusted workforce equipped with the knowledge, skills, and ethical standards required to safeguard personal identification information in line with global best practices,” she said.
Coker-Odusote explained that the partnership with the NDPC would provide comprehensive data protection training and certification for all NIMC staff across the country.
She noted that the training programme would equip staff with practical knowledge on data collection, processing, storage, information sharing, security breach prevention, and incident response management.
“More importantly, it will reinforce a culture of privacy, confidentiality, and accountability throughout the commission,” she added.
The NIMC boss said the collaboration demonstrates the strong synergy between NIMC and NDPC in advancing the Federal Government’s vision of a secure, trusted, and digitally inclusive Nigeria.
She stressed that as digital identity continues to serve as the foundation for access to government services, financial inclusion, healthcare, education, travel, social protection programmes, and economic participation, safeguarding personal data must remain a top priority.
“We view this programme not merely as a training exercise but as a strategic investment in institutional capacity, public trust, and national development,” she stated.
Coker-Odusote further disclosed that NIMC currently manages the largest identity database in Africa and the fifth largest in the world, highlighting the importance of ensuring world-class data protection standards.
