The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) was established by Decree No. 49 of 1993, promulgated on June 10, and gazetted on August 9, of that year. The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) is a body corporate with perpetual succession and common seal, a legal entity charged with the control and supervision of the Computing Profession in the country. I
n regard thereof, its duties include:
1.to determine what standards of knowledge and skills are to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the computing profession and improving those standards from time to time as circumstances may permit.
2.to secure, in accordance with the provision of the Decree, the establishment and maintenance of a register of persons seeking to be registered under the Decree to practise the computing profession, and the publication from time to time, of the list of these persons.
3.to perform any other functions as bestowed on it by the provisions of the decree Consequent upon the foregoing, the Council has responsibilities for the following among others.
◦organisation of computing practice in the country
◦control of the practice of computing in the country
◦supervision of the practice of computing in the country
◦screening individuals seeking to be registered as computer professionals
◦screening corporate bodies seeking to be registered to engage in the sale or use of computing facilities and/or the provision of professional services in computing in the country.
◦ensuring high computing professional ethics and professionalism - standards, discipline etc.
◦determining academic standards in computing - computer science, computer engineering, information science, etc.
◦accreditation of institutions, courses and programmes and the evaluation of certificates in computing.
◦conducting professional examinations in computing by liaising with associations/bodies external to the Council.
◦publicizing activities of the Council.
◦publication of the register of Computer Professionals and other computing professional works - journals, books, magazines, newsletters, etc. In line with the duty assigned to the Council through Decree 49 of 1993, Council has embarked on the programme of Accreditation of Computer Training Institutions. Some private and public Computer training institutions are visited in order to ensure that there is quality control in the industry. Universities of Benin, Lagos, Ibadan and Federal University of Technology, Akure as well as Convenant University, Ota and Yaba College of Technology had their Computer Programmes accredited by the Council. Then, some private computer training institutions were visited in Lagos, Owerri, Jos, Abuja and Kaduna. The list of the Institutions that were given full accreditation were published in the Newspapers to serve as a guide for prospective students and their parents in the course of decision making. Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria) in partnership with the Nigerian Computer Society developed an Information Technology Education Curriculum for Secondary Schools in Lagos State. Due to the satisfactory document brought out of the project, the Federal Ministry of Education showed interest in it and it was sent to them. Also, the Council partners with the Nigerian Information Technology Practitioners in America (NITPA)in order to bring about an International dimension to the nation’s quest for Information Technology development. The series of exchange and visits between the Council and the Nigerians IT Practitioners in diaspora has brought about an enrichment of our experience and outlook to IT development. Also, it has brought about capacity building for many of our youths who attend the annual conferences of the Nigeria Computer Society where the Nigerian IT practitioners in diaspora are invited to give a talk on various issues. Additionally, Council is working in partnership with the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency for the realization of the comprehensive implementation of the Nigerian Information Technology policy. This is because of the unlimited potential and possibilities which Information Technology stands for. Thus, if properly harnessed, Information Technology could serve as a veritable source of foreign exchange earning for the nation. Then, the Council is presently working with the Federal Ministry of Establishment on the creation of the separate salary cadre for Information Technology professionals in the Civil Service like their counterparts in other professions like Accounting, Architechure, Law, Pharmacy etc. This would enable them to be treated and paid as professionals in addition to given them their due them their due recognition as professionals.
