The Federal Government has announced that a total of 58,820 young Nigerians from all six geopolitical zones of the country registered for the Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training (YDPAT) Programme.
The initiative is being facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the Globe Takers Foundation.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director of Information and Public Relations, Omolara Esan, confirmed the official closure of registration for the programme. “In just 53 days, a total of 58,820 young Nigerians signed up from all six geopolitical zones, a strong signal of how eager Nigerian youth are to learn about data protection, digital awareness, and personal growth,” the statement read.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the response as remarkable and proof of young people’s commitment to nation-building. He assured Nigerians that every registrant would be reached through the Ministry’s broader youth development initiatives.
According to him, “While the training will begin with an initial cohort of 5,000 participants carefully selected to ensure fair representation across the country, the remaining registrants will still be engaged through other relevant programs of the Ministry so that no youth is left out.”
The YDPAT programme will run in a hybrid model that combines both online and physical sessions, designed to ensure accessibility regardless of location. Registration closed in the first week of September 2025, and the selection of participants is now ongoing.
The process is expected to continue throughout September, with accreditation and the announcement of selected candidates scheduled for October.
The Ministry disclosed that virtual training is planned to begin in November, followed by physical sessions in December 2025. As the programme advances into this phase, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development called on development partners, private sector stakeholders, and state governments to collaborate and support the YDPAT initiative.
The Minister emphasized that with greater collective effort, the impact of the training could be expanded to benefit more young Nigerians and strengthen digital inclusion across the country. He said the government is focused on preparing a generation that is both digitally aware and capable of protecting its rights online.
“The Federal Ministry of Youth Development remains committed to raising a digitally aware and empowered generation, one capable of protecting its rights in the digital age while contributing meaningfully to the growth and security of Nigeria’s data-driven economy,” the statement added.