NIMC partner with NDPC to train 4000 staff on data protection

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is set to train 4000 of its employees on data protection and privacy in Nigeria through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) Virtual Privacy Academy.

The commission hopes to strengthen Data protection and privacy in Nigeria’s digital landscape and identity ecosystem. This comes in handy as Nigeria continues to expand its database through the National Identification Number System and onboard millions of Nigerians to its existing database.

The NIN database supports verification in key Nigerian industries, and its protection through astute data privacy practices is paramount to an effective national identity system. The National Identity Number and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) are the two most common means of identification in Nigeria today. The NIN was introduced as a National identity scheme, while the BVN was an anti-corruption strategy.

Virtual Privacy Academy to Promote Expert Data Handling in Nigeria’s Public Sector

The Virtual Privacy Academy will organise a training programme that aligns with the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda.

The Initiative was announced during a conference attended by the Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Vincent Olatunji. The conference was marked by training and upskilling of NIMC personnel in data protection and management.

Speaking at the conference, the NDPC CEO commended the Odusote-led NIMC for bold reforms and the attempt to upskill staff to an expert level of data protection proficiency. He added that the training reveals a growing commitment to responsible data handling and privacy across Nigeria’s public sector.

The Virtual Privacy Academy (VPA) is a digital training platform launched by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to deepen data protection and privacy practices across Nigeria’s public and private sectors, unveiled by Communications Minister Bosun Tijani at the 8th NADPA conference in Abuja in May 2025.

It equips professionals with knowledge on personal data governance, lawful processing, cybersecurity hygiene, and emerging regulatory obligations.

The academy is accessible at learn.virtualprivacyacademy.ng, and it uses real-life scenarios rather than dry theory. Mastercard has already onboarded its Nigerian staff onto the platform, and the NIMC is next in line to introduce its staff to it.

NIMC maintains Nigeria has a Robust National Identity Database

The NIMC recently said Nigeria has an effective database system under its care. It refutes claims made by Nigeria’s Minister of Defence. Rt General Chris Musa claimed that Nigeria has a poor data system. This makes fighting terrorism and having an effective security architecture difficult.

NIMC disputed these claims, stating that over 130 million Nigerians are registered and identified in its database. This registered Nigerians possesses a unique National Identity Number (NIN), as stipulated by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007.

The Commission also updated Nigerian’s on its recent developments. It includes expanding its storage capacity from 100 million to 250 million records. The expansion will support stronger, more accurate national coverage, with room for additional data for future enrollments.

The NIN is the primary dataset of the NIMC. It was enacted during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007. The NIN supports identity verification in Nigerian Banks, Public institutions, the private sector, and the aviation industry. It can also be used in place of a passport for local flights.

It is a broader National identity marker used by all classes of Nigerians. This is unlike the International passport, which is mainly for travelers.

Last updated: June 16, 2026