Replace your static methods in DataProvider.vb with this:

' singleton reference to the instantiated object
Private Shared objProvider As DataProvider = Nothing

' constructor
Shared Sub New()
CreateProvider()
End Sub

' dynamically create provider
Private Shared Sub CreateProvider()
objProvider = CType(Framework.Reflection.CreateObject("data", "Assembly.Name", ""), DataProvider)
End Sub

' return the provider
Public Shared Shadows Function Instance() As DataProvider
Return objProvider
End Function

Doing as indicated above still didn't work I get:

  DataProvider 'DataProvider' is ambiguous, imported from the namespaces or types 'LOC.Modules.Events, DotNetNuke.Data'. 

I have even tried to completely redo the module but just insert my ascx files. I used the data provider without altering anything but the public methods. I used the new namespace LOC.Modules.Events instead of LOC.DNN.Modules.Events.Data and it still won't work.

I don't understand this issue. I have even tried designating the appropriate DataProvider as follows: LOC.Modules.Events.DataProvider....