DEADLINE: 2ND JULY, 2021
NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NITDA)
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL ECONOMY
NO 28, PORT HARCOURT CRESCENT, OFF GIMBIYA STREET AREA 11, GARKI, ABUJA
INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST AS DATA PROTECTION KNOWLEDGE CERTIFICATION INSTITUTION
BACKGROUND
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is -mandated by Section 6 (a,c) of the NITDA Act, 2007 and the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2019, to regulate data protection in Nigeria. In January 2019, NITDA issued the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), to ensure the protection of data privacy of Nigerians, safe exchange of personal data, improve ease of doing business, and create economic and growth opportunities for Nigerians.
In 2020, NITDA commissioned a research on the performance of the NDPR and its impact on Nigerians. The research, as summarized in the NDPR Performance report 2019-2020, indicates that there is need for more awareness and capacity building for Nigerians to take advantage of the emerging data economy. Further engagements with Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), Academia, and International Organisations, indicate that data protection processes need to be standardized for Nigeria to maintain her leading role in data protection in Africa and beyond.
In view of the foregoing and in line with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (2021-2024), the Agency now wishes to engage a competent institution to act as data protection “knowledge and certification institution” on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful institution shall do the following:
(i) Coordinate the development of training materials in line with global best practices and inputs from academia as well as relevant stakeholders;
(ii) Register training providers based on internationally acceptable standards;
(iii) Conduct professional examinations to certify skills and competencies for data protection professionals;
(iv) Provide, under the authority of NITDA, certificates to successful candidates;
(v) Prepare strategy to certify 350,000 persons as Data Protection Officers and to register at least 500 Training Service Providers by 2024;
(vi) Conduct research to deepen the data protection and information management knowledge domain;
(vii) Maintain an active database of certified persons;
(viii) Support and advise NITDA on the development of code of practices, frameworks, and other regulatory activities related to the principal function; and
(ix) Any other responsibilities assigned to it by NITDA through the license.
CRITERIA FOR LICENSING
APPLICANTS FOR DATA PROTECTION CERTIFICATION INSTITUTION MUST:
(i) Provide evidence of approval from the Federal Ministry of Education and consent of the Attorney General of the Federation as a certified training institution;
(ii) Provide evidence of charter status or proof of initiation of the process at the National Assembly;
(iii) Provide evidence of ISO /IEC17024: 2012 accreditation;
(iv) Provide evidence of accreditation by the Nigerian National Accreditation Service (NiNAS);
(v) Provide evidence of partnership with at least two international institutions outside Nigeria related to data protection, privacy or information security;
(vi) Be a professional institute in operation for a minimum of five (5) years, with standard, and relevant data training schemes and courses developed in line with global best practices;
(vii) Submit a proposal on implementation and sustainability of the certification scheme; and
(viii) Pay the sum of One million naira (N1, 000,000) non-refundable application fee to the NITDA Treasury Single Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
MODE OF APPLICATION
Applicants are required to submit the above-stated criteria with a covering letter addressed as follows: APPLICATION FOR LICENSING AS DATA PROTECTION CERTIFICATION INSTITUTION To:
Director-General,
National Information Technology Development Agency,
28, Port Harcourt Crescent,
off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja,
Nigeria.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Hardcopy of the application must reach the Agency on or before the close of business on Friday 2 July 2021.
For further enquiries please send an email to dpo@nitda.gov.ng
SIGNED:
MRS HADIZA UMAR MNIPR
HEAD, CORPORATE AFFAIRS, AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS,
NITDA
