The Institute of Information Management (IIM) Africa recently hosted the first International Country Chief Data Officer (CDO) Ambassador Nigeria Symposium in Abujain a bid to educate people on global data-related issues. The MIT Chief Data Officer and Information Quality Symposium (MIT CDOIQ), now in its 15th year, is one of the key events where attendees, governments and the academia normally share best practices, experiences and exchange cutting-edge ideas, contents and discussions.
According to Robert Lutton, MIT CDOIQ Symposium Co-Director, “The Country Chief Data Officers Ambassador Programme is created so that Ambassadors can be empowered in each Country to build, champion and be the voice of data to the C Suite and data Community. It was created by the three following founding organisations that share the goal of advancing the knowledge and accelerating the adoption of the role of the Chief Data Officer (CDO) in all industries in geographical countries. They are as follows, CDOIQ, the International Society of Chief Data Officers and the CDO Magazine.”
Lutton said in establishing the Country CDO Ambassador programme, the purpose and mission clearly defined are enrichment of the global Community with the Country CDO Ambassador successes; development of a champion of the regionwho facilitates a bi-directional communication between the Country CDO Ambassador(s) and the community(ies); provision of a vehicle for promoting successes and education while mobilising efforts for the community.
Lutton added that the Global Country CDO Ambassadors Community is proud to recognise Ambassador (Dr) Oyedokun Oyewole as the Nigeria CDO Ambassador and commended the work he (Oyewole) is doing for Nigeria, Africa and the Data Community, most especially for establishing the first international CDO symposium.
Dr. Richard Wang, Founder and Executive Director, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) CDOIQ Programme said part of MIT strategy include pragmatic and rigorous research in promoting Data leadership Management and Toolkit for CDOs in practice.
In Wang’s words, “In line with the Country CDO mandates (Champion, Connect, Mobilise and Educate), we are excited that the Country Chief Data Officer for Nigeria, Amb. (Dr) Oyedokun having successfully set up a local organising committee shortly after his appointment in August 2021 was able to successful champion the first International CDO Nigeria Symposium.”