Computer Professionals Nigeria (CPN) was established by Act 49 of 1993 to regulate, control and supervise the IT industry in Nigeria. The Act establishing the Council was passed into law on 10th of June and gazetted on the 9th of August that year. It is also charged with the responsibility of determining the standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the computing profession and improve those standards from time to time as circumstances may permit. Also, it is part of the responsibility of CPN to maintain a register of persons seeking to be registered under the Act to practice the computing profession and the publication from time to time of the list of such persons. Therefore, it is illegal for anybody to practice Information Technology in Nigeria without registering with Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria).

CPN is the apex regulatory body for IT practice in Nigeria. It was established by Act 49 of 1993 to regulate, supervise and control the practice of computing in Nigeria. It is to the information Technology profession what COREN, (Council for the Regulation of Engineering Practice in Nigeria) is to Engineering. The Nigerian Computer Society is an association of which comprises professional that come together to promote their common interest in the profession, interact and hold capacity building programmes to enhance their professional development. CPN collaborate with NCS in holding some programmes, but the fact still remain that CPN is different from NCS. They are not the same. The two are different in all ramifications.  

Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria recognizes the need to embrace other professionals that are interested in building career in Information Technology. Towards this end, a special cadre known as affiliate was created for other professionals that work in the IT industry and interested in making career out of Information Technology. Thus, people from other professions would be registered under the cadre of affiliate member before they progress to the other top cadres. Another way members of other professions could enter the IT industry is to write our professional exams known as Computer Professionals Examination. The examination is in three stages and opens to any interested member of public that want to build a career in IT. Upon completion of the exams, the person would be registered under a FULL MEMBER category.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is the body set up by the Nigerian government to implement the Government’s Information Technology policy while Nigerian Computer Society is an association of professionals who come together to exchange ideas and enhance their professional development through their involvement in various activities. However, Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria is the apex regulatory body for IT practice in Nigeria. Thus, the objective for the establishment of each of the three bodies is clearly spelt out. CPN’s primary duty is to regulate and supervise the IT profession. An equivalent of CPN in Engineering is the Council for the Regulation of Engineering Practice in Nigeria (COREN) whose main duty is to regulate Engineering practice in Nigeria. NITDA’s role is restricted to the implementation of Government policy on Information Technology. In fact, four CPN members are nominated to represent the interest of the profession in NITDA board.

It is simple for an individual and IT firms to be a member of CPN. What it entails is to walk down to our office and pick up an Individual Membership application form which is Ten Thousand Naira (N10, 000:00) and Corporate application form fee which is Twenty Thousand Naira (20,000:00). The forms could also be downloaded online.  The form will be completed and submitted to our office or online and successful applicants will be asked to pay the registration fee. The registration fee could be paid into our account online for the sake of convenience.