The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has developed 35 new National Occupational Standards (NOS) aimed at addressing digital skills gaps and shaping the future of ICT education in Nigeria.
The Registrar of CPN, Mr. Muhammed Bello Aliyu, speaking during a three-day validation workshop on NOS in ICT in Abuja on Wednesday, stated that this initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He added that these digital skills would foster entrepreneurial development, job creation, employment, and national development.
He revealed that CPN has been granted the status of an Awarding Body by the NBTE for all Information and Communication Technology-related skills under the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
According to him, candidates trained using these National Occupational Standards would be equipped to contribute to the local economy and seize outsourcing opportunities.
He said:
“Information Technology is a dynamic profession with innovations and developments occurring daily worldwide. This necessitated our review of the current National Occupational Standards in ICT to ensure alignment with current trends in IT practice.
“We identified gaps and developed standards for emerging areas in ICT such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and UI/UX, ensuring Nigerians acquire ICT qualifications that position them to compete globally and remain relevant to employers in the IT industry,” he stated.
Aliyu emphasized the importance of stakeholders in the IT ecosystem for this validation exercise and expressed appreciation for their participation despite the short notice.
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“As the awarding body, we are here with the sector skills council and regulators, including the NBTE, represented by the Executive Secretary. Today, we are validating all 35 NOS, which is a significant milestone.
“What we intend to achieve is the closure of digital skills gaps in the country. These standards will serve as the foundation for digital skills training nationwide.
“Having been granted the status of an awarding body for ICT, we now have a sector skills council in Nigeria. With support from the NBTE, which oversees polytechnics, we are positioned to set IT educational standards—a core mandate of our council. Through collaboration with the Ministry of Education, we aim to ensure these standards are implemented across universities, colleges of education, and other institutions. This validation will produce globally accepted standards applicable to all digital skills required in the country,” he added.
The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Mohammad Bugaje, represented by Dr. Musa Hatim Koko, Director of Curriculum at NBTE, commended the Registrar of CPN for spearheading this laudable initiative.
He emphasized the need for at least 500 experts in data protection and privacy.
Providing an overview of the new NOS for ICT, the Head of Business Development at CPN, Mr. Benjamin Prince, reiterated the council’s openness to collaborations aimed at advancing the ICT sector.
